a cop-out post: One Word

Your last meal: cereal
Something on your desk/work area: crumbs
Your New Year's Eve plans: friends
The smallest gift you received this year: giftcard
The largest gift you received this year: money
Something you wish you hadn't eaten so much of during the holidays: nothing.
On your feet: toes
Your hair: messy
How many other countries you've traveled to: one
One country you dream of visiting: India
A hobby you'd like to take up/revisit this year: scrapbooking
A hobby of yours that died (aww, buh-bye) this past year: none
A publication you subscribe to (print): O
The most embarrassing subscription in your feed reader (if you have one): famecrawler
One of your favorite stores to window shop dreamily in: Target
One of your favorite online stores to window shop dreamily on: amazon
A color you love to wear: black
Your bed pillow: mmmmmmmmmmm
The color of your kitchen counter: spotted
What you plan to do when you get up from the computer: drink coffee

a whole lotta cupcakes

sitting on the couch waiting for the second batch-the white-cupcakes to cool enough to frost. Half of them with vanilla, half with chocolate, just like the chocolate cupcakes. Kaia wants her friends to have choices tomorrow. Which is why I now have 18 cupcakes waiting for FOUR little girls to each pick one. This is an important party for her though, so I want it to be perfect for her. She already was disappointed that only three girls could come, everyone else is either on vacation, didn't return my call, or in the case of one was the wrong phone number.

Mike has WONDERFULLY agreed to take them all out to play in the snow, after which we will eat Kaia's choice for lunch, sandwiches and nacho cheese Doritos. Then cupcakes, then some in the house playing if there's still time. I'm hoping there's not, isn't that selfish of me? ;-)

This time next week I will be in my new house!! I am so excited to unpack and put everything in it's new place, to show my family the apartment I chose, and to put my clothes in my new walk-in closet! Then on the 7th, Mike starts work, and Kaia starts at her new school. She is getting more and more excited about it. We looked at the class list and learned the names of her new classmates. She has her apron for cooking, her slippers for wearing indoors, her raincoat for going outside for recess, her lunch box and basket for...well, lunch, of course.

My dad will be bringing up the crib, so Ben will have a new place to sleep. Kaia will have a new bed, too, as well as a new dresser. We'll have another bookshelf and a coffee table!

I think the cupcakes might be cool enough. So I will stop this incessant babbling and let you get back to more interesting things!

making plans

Please excuse the meandering of the following post.......thank you.


I've created a one-year budget for us after we move. We will finally have some money to do some things, but first up is paying off debt. Thanks to my mom, we have NO school loans, but we do have other bills. We owe my mom a fair amount, but that will be the last chunk of debt paid off, as she would prefer we pay off interest debt first.

My Uncle Chris lent us another fair amount (though less) to move with, and that repayment will be started in May 2008 and paid off sometime the following year, 2009. The first bills we will pay off will be from Ben's birth, about $2000 total (after insurance paid 80%!). Then the MasterCard will be sent serious payments ($200-$400 per month) until paid off, probably by the first few months of 2009. Then we will start paying my mom back.

Rounding up, (possibly by a few thousand, not totally sure) we have a total of about 16 grand to pay off, and how awesome is it that ALL of it will be done by the end of 2009?

Plans for right after we move include making wills and getting life insurance for both of us. We will be immediately contributing to Mike's 401-k so we don't get used to that money, so our retirement plans can get back on track. The kids' college funds will have to wait until after debt is paid off, but then we can start putting several hundred a year into each of those.

We may, I'm not sure, have the Toyota paid off by the end of 2009 too, but at some point during that year I'm hoping to get a different car (Mike might keep the Toyota, he's not sure). Not a new one, but hopefully one that only 1-3 years old.

For the next year, we will each have a small monthly allowance so we can have some fun :-)! I will be taking that out in cash at the beginning of each month, and not carrying my debit card or checkbook around with me, to curb spending. I will be paying for groceries with cash too, and sticking to a set amount each month. Right now that amount is $400, but that may have to change.

One thing we are considering to reward ourselves for the hard work we've done these past three years, is getting iPods with one of his first checks. Not the most expensive ones by a long shot, but just something that says "We DID IT!!!" Then the budget can be followed from then on.

I'm trying to think of something I can do, that doesn't cost money obviously, for following the budget each month. I know it's going to be hard for me, but I really want to reach that zero debt mark. Mike really wants to be out of renting in a couple years, and I don't want to buy until we are in a really good place, financially, for that. Any extra money at the end of each month is going to be rolled over into a savings account, and I need something to motivate me not to touch it! ANY IDEAS?!?!

To keep from getting bored, I am already putting plans into place for activities the kids and I can do while Mike is at work. Kaia will be getting out of school at 12:30 each day. I have found some moms' groups I am going to try out.

On Saturdays, there is a Zen meditation group I am hoping will be really cool. I asked Mike about it and he is happy to give me those mornings if it turns out to be something I enjoy.

Wednesdays I am going to take the kids to the library, and Mondays will will go grocery shopping.

Mike will have every other Friday off, and we have already decided to see if we like the zoo and the aquarium enough to get year long memberships to them. (with each of those, 3 visits per year will make a membership worth the cost)

During the summer, I am going to sign Kaia up for swimming lessons, and since Ben will be over six months old, he and I can do a babies and mom's swimming time.

I am going to ask Mike's step mom to show me the ropes for ebay-ing. She and Mike's father were really good at it, and made quite a bit of money. She stopped after Bill's death, but she is getting back into it now, and Mike and I think that would be something fun I could start doing, to make money (hopefully!) and to occupy my time. So during the summer we'll be going to a lot of yard sales!

I'm excited to show Kaia the space needle, and I know I'll find lots of other fun stuff (like Pike Place Market!) in Seattle, as well as the town we'll live in, to do. My aunt and uncle live only 30 minutes away from us, so we'll be spending lots of time with them too!

wow. okay, that's enough babbling for now.

Good Friday

Today was spectacular. I will tell you why, but please know that nothing ultra exciting happened. I will reach the end of my tale, and you will probably wonder why I am so thrilled. Also, it's only 2:30, so there is so much more of the day to enjoy! I may post again later if more cool things happen. although nothing most people would find overly joyful happened, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

First, Ben only woke up ONCE last night!! That means he slept 6 hours, then 4 hours! Too cool....

Kaia headed out the door for her last day at this school, and I started coffee. Mike sat down at his computer to mess around for a bit and I checked email. Just a nice relaxing morning.

Mike went on a box hunt and was successful! He came back with several good ones, including 3 perfect book packing boxes. Together we taped them closed on the bottom and emptied almost one full bookcase! It was awesome to just spend time with my husband.

Then we made Harvest Muffins (at some point will post recipe) together, while sharing a leftover burrito. Again, just spending the time leisurely with my man was just too cool. There was no homework sitting in the background calling him, no other work that we HAD to do. Ben snoozed in his swing behind us as we stirred and chopped and Mike fed me bites of burrito goodness.

Then Andrea called and asked if I wanted to join her for some last minute Christmas shopping. Of course, there is only one answer to that, so she picked me up and we headed out, leaving Ben in his daddy's capable hands. We fortified ourselves with a couple of Baskin Robbins coffee drinks (and I picked up a small container of bubble gum ice cream (can you say oh my god, yuck?!) for Kaia and Mike (yes, my husband likes pink bubblegum ice cream. crazy, I know).

We headed to the store and wandered happily about. I picked up a set of reindeer antlers for Kaia, which was meant to be a Christmas gift, but turned into a feel-better gift (more on that later), and found 3 books for Ben's Santa gift. One of the books Andrea found and was extremely generous in letting me have it, as it was the only one left--it has black and white pictures of animals that look like they are moving when you move the page. Much cooler than it sounds, trust me.

I came home to my family-Kaia had a half day today-and discovered Kaia had fell at school and skinned up her nose and mouth. She was okay, but I gave her the antler-headband to help her feel better. Ate a Harvest Muffin, then sat on the couch and listened to her read a book she got in class today. Ben is now sleeping on me, sweet sweet boy, and Kaia and Mike came in from playing outside for a bit.

excellent day, don't you agree?

Proud of My Man

I can't believe I haven't brought this up yet, I guess since all my readers know me, so already know, I didn't think it was necessary, but I have changed my mind.

My husband, rockin' smart guy that he is, has graduated! and managed, even with two kids and a wife, to graduate magna cum laude!! He has a cumulative GPA of 3.75 and in his department (computer science) a GPA of 3.85! My man is awesome, isn't he? He was really worried about this semester since he was taking some hard classes and Ben came right at the beginning of it, but he did really well, two A's and two A-'s, which raised his GPA!

He is SO HAPPY to be DONE DONE DONE. I am SO HAPPY he is done too!! When we told Kaia she no longer had to hear the words "Sweet, I have homework to do right now", she practically cried she was so excited.

So yeah. He's graduated, has a job, and we are moving to begin anew in three weeks.

YAY, us!!!!!

blech

I am out of sorts tonight. No real reason why, just feeling grumpy.

I adapt well to new situations. When moving up here the only regret I had was leaving my family and friends. My only regret leaving here is leaving Andrea and her family. I love the planning that goes into a move, the unpacking of my things, the dream that this time I will put everything in it's place and it will stay there. The finding of the nearby grocery stores, the search for the perfect doctor, dentist, chiropractor. The idea that I may meet new friends, find new adventures.

The down side to this? I begin to distance myself from THIS place too early. I stop caring if things have a place, because they won't even be here soon. I stop worrying how I look when I go out, because these people will never see me again! It's hard to clean my house, because in my mind, it's quickly becoming not-my-house. MY house is on the other side of the state, eagerly awaiting my arrival! It's even hard to eat the food here....this isn't real food, the REAL food over there, paused in it's existence until I appear to purchase and consume it. I forget to make sure Kaia has her Blue Folder for school, or does her homework (which I was actually getting very good at remembering to have her do), because this isn't her REAL school....her teacher and her new friends are only three weeks away from meeting their newest classmate!

It's hard to even buy food or anything else. I was in the store today, and I had to make myself buy yogurt and lunch meat. I passed a rack of something or other that normally I would have had to steel myself to pass by without grabbing things....and I could only think of the clutter it would add to my new home. I need pants, I have been living in pajama pants, only putting one one of the two pairs of jeans I own if I am leaving the house--but when I walked into the clothing section yesterday, I couldn't stand the sheer AMOUNT OF CLOTH, and had to go about my business of finding the Christmas gifts I had come for. I got mad at myself when this morning I realized both my pairs of jeans were dirty and I had to find the least dirty pair to wear, but won't go buy any until after I move. 'Cause in my strangely warped mind, the jeans over THERE must be better than the ones here, HERE where I don't actually live anymore, so can't buy anything right?

The only thing I haven't pulled back from is Andrea and her family. I want to spend as much time as possible (and due to weather and the price of gas, isn't close to as much as I'd like) before we leave. The last three years are the longest duration of time we've lived this close to each other in our whole 22 year friendship.

Now that I think about it, that may be another reason I have emotionally left this area already. I hate long drawn out goodbyes, so getting all but that one over with as soon as possible. And saying goodbye to Andrea, John, Katia and Liam will not be fun. There will be tears, at least on my part, and Kaia's......and the one thing I hate more than long drawn out goodbyes are tear filled ones.

That was enough of a ramble to last awhile, now, wasn't it?

baby faces and a word I don't like....

When Kaia was an itty bitty newborn, I was always sad I didn't have a video camera to capture the absolutely marvelous faces she made when sleeping. I swore when Ben was born that I'd remember to catch him sleeping on film (on electrons? whatever...)

so of course I didn't get around to it, and suddenly I realized he's reached the ripe old age of almost-three-months and he has stopped making faces while sleeping. I am disappointed in myself! One of the cutest things about newborn-hood and I slacked it.

In other news, we are taking Kaia to the doctor today because she has an ongoing cramp in her leg where her thigh meets her inner hip. ( I really hate the word groin, so wasn't going to use it, but I don't want people to think I don't know the word for that area....sigh....so my pride is forcing me to tell you I DO know the word, just don't want to use it! but using it in telling you, so might as well have used it in telling you about her cramp, and I'm going to go now...)

2 hours and counting....*

Well, I was thinking of doing a bulleted post, because I couldn't think of much to say, but a couple of things I DO want to talk about, but then I realized that there are only TWO things that really need to be said, and bullets for two things is a bit much...so!

Kaia walked to the bus stop by herself this morning. Exciting as all get out for her, stressful and worry-making for me. After being instructed about the level of screaming that needs to be done if someone tries to take her, and after she made a promise not to take her usual sweet time to get somewhere, she headed out the back door. I watched her until she went around a building....then went inside. I did hear the other kids from the preschool coming, so even if no one else is there the second she gets there, they'll be along shortly. So a milestone has been reached. She walked by herself somewhere for the first time. Why is this making me more weepy than her first day of school?!

We found an apartment! I went out a few days ago and drove with my mother and aunt (had so much fun!!!) to look at the ONE place I could find in my price range with a three bedroom 2 bathroom unit available....and it's PERFECT. I absolutely LOVE it. Pictures to follow as soon as I figure out what's wrong with my damn computer making it refuse to take pictures off of my memory card. We move in on the 5th.....wish us luck!
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*til Mike is DONE DONE DONE!!!

some babbling from out of nowhere

There seems to be a growing trend to home school. I read blogs devoted to it, or by moms who happen to mention that they do it. And they are, RIGHTFULLY, so happy and proud about it. I've read a blog written by a woman while she was making the decision to home school, and read about her discovered love of it, and continuing enjoyment from it. I've known a family with four kids who home schools, and their children are very smart, very well educated kids who seem to really enjoy learning, thanks to their parents.

One thing that bothered me was that a lot (not all by any means) of the mothers who wrote about homeschooling, seemed to exude a holier-than-thou attitude about it. Even those that claimed to be non-judgmental about it would say things like "we love our kids enough to make sure they get a GOOD education" as if sending your kids to a public school meant you didn't love them enough, but hey! they aren't judging you for it!

So for about 2.5 seconds, I considered it. I mean, I'm an intelligent, creative person. I could do the research, and get the materials....there's lots about it on the Internet. Then I almost fell over laughing (internally) over the idea. I just couldn't do it. For a bit I felt a little guilty about that. Shouldn't I want to spend that quality time with my kids? Shouldn't I care that much about their education that I take it upon myself, now that I don't have to work, to give them the best chance in life that I can?

To answer the second question first, yes, I should. and DO. And the way I can do that is not by homeschooling. Because while I am an intelligent, creative person, being the sole teacher of my children would NOT be beneficial to them or me. Now, before you get all indignant, I am not saying it's not beneficial to OTHER peoples' kids who are home schooled.

However, as many strengths as I have, being a good mother doesn't include being around my kids 24 hours a day. I have to have time to myself to be able to give them my best. Also, having finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up, I am looking forward to going back to school, then work. I know that I would lose my patience, lose my ability to be the best mom I can be.

And that kind of answers the first question. I love spending time with my kids. But I know that I am more fun, and more able to enjoy that time when it's not ALL THE TIME. And I have decided not to feel guilty about that fact.

So I went with a third option. I found a school that agreed with what I, in a more perfect and patient world, would teach my kids. They will learn multiple languages, they will study music and the playing of instruments. They will draw and paint on a daily basis, even in the higher grades. They will dance, and be in plays, and garden, and cook, and enjoy learning (hopefully!)

It's hard for parents to figure out the best for our kids. For some, homeschooling is the only decision. For others, public schools are a wonderful choice. For me, the Waldorf system is what I like best. It's another one of those things that we need to stand together as parents rather than judging, like the whole SAHM vs. working mom (can't remember the acronym for that, oh well.) Being a parent is hard enough without having someone look down on you for your choices.

Next year...

I am so totally doing this!!!

http://www.quietfish.com/notebook/?p=1244#top

Hangin' out in my little g's!

This last one was taken by Kaia.

Her camera is, of course, inexpensive, so the picture quality isn't the best...

baby steps...

My propensity for making new goals, then completely forgetting about them is known. So I haven't really posted anything about the new things I've been doing in my quest to live a little more Green. (I just found that website, actually....gonna look more into it.)

But I've actually followed through on some things for this goal, so thought it was time to talk a bit about it. Also, Ben is asleep and I want a reason not to have to get up and do dishes....

SO!

First--Andrea and I found these bags for $1 each, and I bought five to use instead of grocery bags.

I confess I have forgotten them occasionally...but I am getting better!

Second, I used money sent by my grandmother -she wanted me to get a diaper service. While I appreciate the gesture, I am not a cloth diaper sort of person. However, I do care that (did you know this?!) diapers take 500 years to decompose. This means every diaper EVER made is still in existence, and will be for hundreds of years more. I thought about going cloth for about 2.5 seconds, but sadly, it is not for me. However! I discovered g diapers ! So I used the money to buy the initial supplies and a bunch of liners for those. The liners break down completely in very little time, OR, you can flush them! Right now I am still using disposable diapers when I go out, but after I am used to using the g diapers, will exclusively use those.

Third, I am switching over to using natural products for household cleaning. After I move, I plan to use vinegar, baking soda and lemon for most of my cleaning needs. (does Costco sell those things in bulk? anyone know?) I will be taking my chemical cleansers to the waste disposal at the dump so they can dispose of them safely and NOT buying any more!

I am also trying to use more natural products for everything else...food, shampoo, etc. many natural products still have things that aren't good, such as parabens, but I'm doing my best to pay attention to what I put on or in my body!

There will be other ways I go more environmentally safe, will go into details later! Ben's awake....

Bento and a practice in hyperlinking....

When Kaia starts going to her new school, I have to pack her a lunch every day. I wanted to start doing something different than a sandwich every day....also, I had decided to pack Mike a lunch too, to save money. I hadn't really figured out what to do, then came across this and though YES!!! YES!!!

Looking around I found pictures like this and I was a goner. THIS I HAVE TO DO!!!

So I found this and some other accessories and I am so excited to move and start experimenting!

Big Sister!

By the way...

a bit of clarification on the last post...Ben of course sees and smiles at PEOPLE quite often too...I just wanted to show the OTHER things he smiles at....

Views That Make Ben Smile

Here is what Ben sees from the places he smiles most.

The reason there is very little color is because apparently that's about what babies his age see...theoretically and in general. I did not run the photos by Ben to make sure they were correct...and how would he know?!

Okay, so here's the first one. It seems like he's below that shelf, which seems a bit precarious, but he is not actually below it...just FYI. This is in our bathroom, and this is what he looks at most of the time when I am taking a bath. This particular angle is his favorite.

Here we see what he sees while I am holding him in bed. The black-on-white must please him, because he grins at the wall every time I put him up there.

Here we have the view when he is in my lap, but not nursing. He finds the curtain and the couch pattern hilarious.

Here we come to the view he has while in his swing. The fish spin, and there are lights. This pleases him, sometimes. At other times, it enrages him.

And here is his view when he is eating, which is often. I actually am usually looking down at him, but that picture did unflattering things to my chin. I don't mind if he sees that, but you don't need to! He most likely sees a bit more boob, as well. That is also unnecessary for your viewage.

at 8:43 am

Today is Ben's 2 month check up! The good news is we can find out just how plump he is! The bad news is he has to have shots...poor kid. Actually, Kaia is due for one, too, but I haven't made her go in yet...need to do that.
Ben was fussy until after midnight last night. He's not quite colicky, but close. I am looking forward to be done with that particular phase.

A few "snapshots" of what's around me:

My hair is quite wild and in my face.
My coffee is cold.
Ben is smiling up at the fish on his swing--wait, no, he's fussing...oh! he's better now.
Mike has just went up to the bathroom.
It is FREAKIN' COLD outside. 34 degrees according to iGoogle.
It has become almost impossible for me to go bra-less and not end up with milk stains on my shirt.
Ben's eyes are opening and closing in time with his swing.
I really REALLY want to go back to bed.
This post is going nowhere.

Goodbye.

Glimpse of Two Days

Here is Kaia, yesterday, playing with a train that I have been saving, and forgot about.

Notice the paper track she cut out.....

And here is Ben today, taking his nap. He fell asleep while Kaia was reading to him. Yes, I know he's supposed to be on his back, but he is right in front of me, and I am keeping an eye on him!

O-G-N-I-M-A-L-F!!!

While Kaia was doing dishes:


Kaia: "top top top top....top....p-p-pot...top pot...hey! Pot is top backwards!"

me: "yep"

Kaia: "What's 'flamingo' backwards?"

a very quick quickie

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for, and so little desire to write a post at this time....but love and kisses and hugs to all those people I love--

you know who you are.

Written while being elbowed and begged for breakfast

I love getting up early in the morning. Now, before, if you know me, you suffocate while trying to hold back the laughter, or strain your neck searching for flying pigs, let me explain.

I DON'T usually get up early. I LOVE TO SLEEP IN TOO. If I don't have an early morning commitment-that I can't get out of-then it's next to impossible to get up early, if I don't choose to.

What I love are those mornings when I wake up early and just....want to get up. It was 7 am this morning when that happened, and I have had breakfast, drank some coffee, and read my favorite blogs.

I have also cuddled a bit with my daughter, but that has turned into her complaining about me being on the computer and begging to be fed. Sheesh, kids these days! Sometimes she even asks more than once a day for food!

Plans for this day include shopping for Thanksgiving pie and veggies with Andrea, doing dishes and laundry (though what day doesn't include those two!?), buying snow boots for my daughter, and sledding down our back hill with Kaia. All in all, a good plan, don't you think?

"No, but I'm quite fond of my llama"

Kaia found my mini-dictionary, which is about an inch big. She was reading some of the words in it-in fact, we were all playing a game and we kept having to remind her when it was her turn. I asked her to look up a word and then use it in a sentence. The first word she looked at was interrogate. I told her what it meant according to the dictionary--to ask questions of. She said:

"You mean like 'Do you love your goat?'"

Now that would be an interesting interrogation.

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Sometime after we move, I am going to actually start the cookbook for Kaia that I already have the supplies for. In it will be all her favorite recipes, in the hope that when she moves out, she will then have a large collection of things she likes and knows how to make. Today I decided that pictures would be awesome in it, at least of the finished product. Then I decided that I may as well also take pictures of the process, a la http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/ and post the recipes for all of you! so we begin:

Here are all the ingredients.

A few side notes: the recipe only calls for 8 ounces of cream cheese, so it may be easier to simply buy an 8 oz. block. It's up to you.

Also, the plastic container is powdered sugar-I didn't have a pretty box of it to put in the picture.

As you can see, this recipe calls for very few ingredients!

So! To begin! In a large bowl, mix TWO boxes of devil's food cake mix, 4 eggs, and 2/3 cup of oil. As you can see, I don't use oil, I use melted butter. Again, up to you.
Mix on low, then medium until thoroughly blended.
The batter will be THICK.
Either roll into one inch balls, or cheat like I do and use a cookie scoop!


Flatten with something...I used a measuring cup.

Put in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 9 minutes. Remove from oven, let sit for a couple of minutes, then cool on cooling racks. While cooking and cooling, make filling!

Blend together 8 ounces softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup softened butter.

Blending....


Add 4 cups of SIFTED powdered sugar. Sifting removes lumps. If you don't have a sifter, or don't want to sift, that's your choice. :-)

After every cup or so, blend in....Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla....

And beat until creamy!
Should have consistency of frosting...cause that's basically what it is...cream cheese frosting...we are just going to use it as filling....

And here we have our cookies...about to be removed to finish cooling....

place about this much filling on the bottom of one cookie...you may want to put more, I had left over filling, but what I used was a good ratio, in MY opinion, of cookie-to-filling.so, yes, about so much....
Place second cookie on top and while pressing down, spin the cookies a bit...will help spread filling.

Feed to hungry beasts of all ages.....

Here is the finished product!

...don't worry, the recipe made more than this - about 20 or 30 sandwiches (so 40-60 cookies, sorry, didn't count)

The original recipe called for coloring the filling red and green...looked very pretty, but I try not to use artificial colors like that when I have the choice....once again, up to you!

:-)

I'm in love....

Okay, I just started a Flickr account, and found something that makes me LOVE IT.

So, something I didn't know, is that when you change the name of a photo, something still keeps track of when it was taken (!!!!!!)

On Flickr, it will tell you when each photo was taken even if the title of the photo has been changed! What a wonderful thing to include!

I absolutely adore Flickr.

Want to see my pictures?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11894420@N06/

ever feel this way?

Kaia showing off her winning grin

And here's my eldest child....what wonderful kids I have!

Littlest Pit Crewman

Attention Uncle Mike and Aunt Carol! Ben is READY!!

Well, sort of.....

but isn't his new hat too cute!?! Found it at Goodwill today and couldn't resist.

Now when we watch you race, Ben will fit right in!

me and my boy!

Isn't he just too sweet?!

FINALLY!

Forgot to mention!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not only did I get a smile yesterday, I got SEVERAL!! He's being very smiley! I love it!

sleeping progress

Ben slept for 4 hours last night! Possibly more, I'm not exactly sure if I fed him around 12 or 12:30....then he slept until 4:30!!

I'm still tired, but I feel more awake at this time than I have in a long time.

Oh! AND though he still was in bed with us, he was sleeping without me holding his hands!

independent sleeping here we come!! slowly....

do you ya have to do around here to get a smile, anyway?!

Ben has smiled at Mike. He's smiled at Kaia, Andrea, Andrea's mom, several ceilings, the couch, and the window in the living room.

He has not smiled at me. What am I? Chopped liver?

Oh...no....I am just the Milk Dispenser. :-)

no really, THIS time I'll actually do it!*

have I ever mentioned my lack of follow-through-ed-ness? No? But you know anyway? How'd you guess? oh....the DOZENS of posts that start "I have a new goal!!" then you never hear about how it went? that's cause it didn't. Went. Go. whatever.

I really mean to follow through on things. I have gads of enthusiasm for everything I start. then....

It's not that I am flaky. Well, obviously I am, but not deep down. I am actually quite a reliable person when it's important.

I don't lose interest....I don't get frustrated. I FORGET. out and out, complete amnesia. someone will bring up a goal..."so, how're the simplicity lessons going?" and I will look at them, blankly at first. then it will hit me what the hell they are talking about. "OH!!! RIGHT!!!" I will shriek, making them regret mentioning anything. "umm...yeah....well....I forgot...."

"Oh..." they will say. "You seemed so enthusiastic about it."

"Yeah....I was....I mean am....well...yeah...." I will lamely mutter.

I would prefer to think of it as an endearing quirk than a horribly annoying fault. I guess that depends on how much you love me, eh?

*can't you just smell the sarcasm?!

ugh.

yeah, so obviously the whole posting every day thing hasn't really happened. I'll figure out how to unsubscribe tomorrow since I've broken the one and only rule. right now I have to clean baby puke off of the couch and throw all my clothes in the laundry.

was a fun day today though. will (probably) write about it tomorrow.

So...GUESS WHAT?!?!

Mike just received his first job offer. He's waiting to see if the other company he's interested in gets back to him, but.....

West Side of Washington, HERE WE COME!!!!! I am so excited, and relieved, that he got the offer. It's at one of his first choices too! Now the Moving Planning can officially begin...

DA DA DUUUUUUMMMMM.

I have a list of 5 possible apartment complexes I am most interested in. I figure I'll go over at the beginning of December to look at them and see which will be available. At that time I'll also get a local phone book so I can start to research everything else...Internet, phone, electric, etc. We already have Kaia signed up for school, and I've located the local Whole Foods Market. When we get there, the first couple months will be hectic, finding a doctor, dentist, chiropractor, and getting caught up on all those things for all of us. Unpacking....ugh, I hate packing....I love unpacking though...putting everything away in it's place, pretending to myself and anyone who'll listen that THIS time things will STAY there!

The only downer, and it's a big one, is how much I will miss Andrea, John, Katia, and Liam. Living in the same area as they do has been awesome. It's not often you meet people who you know are going to be friends for life. I've already known Andrea for 21 years, and John for over 11. We will definitely be visiting as often as we can (Silverwood, guys?!) But not living close to them anymore is going to be very sad.

wow...my head is just whirling with things I need to do...most of which aren't practical to start until December at least....

Yay, Mike!! Honey, you ROCK.

After the bath....

Sibling Time

I was about to take Ben back downstairs, when Kaia called to me-

"Mom!! I want Ben to come watch me play!"

"You know he can't play WITH you, right?"

"Yeah, mom, I KNOW"

"All right, I set him up in his buzzy chair in here. Call me when he gets fussy."

"Okay! Cool!!"


about 10 minutes later-

"You two okay up there?"

she yells down, "WHAT?"

"I said, are you doing okay with Ben?"

"YES! HE'S ASLEEP!!! SO BE QUIET!!"

alrighty.

But isn't cool?! My kids are having fun together! sort of...kinda....

A belated Halloween post....

I know it's a bit late to be writing about Halloween, but I didn't want to miss it! It's Ben's first!
First, here's Kaia, as the Little Bad Wolf...my mom made the costume, isn't it awesome! Kaia had a blast wearing it, the growling almost got out of hand.... :-)
And here is Ben....you can't see the full effect of his cow costume, because the other pictures of him aren't the most appealing, and you must only see him at his cutest! So here he is, half of a cow, with a bit of a horn problem.... And here are Batman and his Pirate companion. Not my boys, but so cute I had to add them...would have added the Pirate's older sister, also a Pirate, but there weren't any pictures of her in full regalia....both of us moms weren't the best this year at picture taking, the evening was a bit hectic.
It wasn't even close to as cold as it has been, which meant Ben and I could go with everyone! Strangely enough, this year was also the shortest time we've spent out too....but all the kids got plenty of candy, and the stew dinner before heading out was sublime! Rolls with butter are also one of life's wonderful things......

Day Three *cough*twoforme*cough*

apparently I need to just not commit to writing. It makes my brain go blank. I have no interesting, insightful, or humorous topics to write about today, I am sorry.

here are a few random thoughts, however, for your perusal.

--Today we went to Andrea's. Mike went too!

--I am not sure I can nurse for a full year, unless he stops the daily frenzy in which he eats CONSTANTLY for varied lengths of time.

--I want to get rid of my chemical cleansers-how the hell do you dispose of them?!

--we might know soon where Mike will be working.

--Symphony chocolate bars are the way to my heart.

--also, cake.

--Kaia has a Strawberry Shortcake game. We are all flummoxed on how to get them back to the damn cookie party. It's very very annoying.

--I want to go take a bath, and this isn't very interesting anyway...so....good night!

oh for heaven's sake

I failed on the second day!!!! I totally forgot to post yesterday!!! I suck at NoBloPoMo.

you go! you rock! you're a girl!

Happy first day of NaBloPoMo!

confession

Sometimes I crack myself up with how silly I am.....

made an egg and toast sandwich.
cut a slice of cheese to grate onto it. grated about 3/4 of it, put the rest on the counter.
looked at cheese while assembling sandwich.
came back later, realized I had purposely walked away from cheese in order for it to harden, thereby making it inedible, so I would have an excuse to throw it away and not eat it.

feeling down....but working up.

This was a bit of a tiring day. Ben didn't sleep very well last night, not even his normal 2 hour portions.

Kaia got out of school early - will all this week- because of parent-teacher conferences. So she came home and made the living room even more of a mess than it was....and yes, the rest of the mess was mine. Hard to bend down when your baby uses you as a bed ALL FREAKIN' DAY AND NIGHT.

Anyway, Kaia spent the time I was at the conference with John at work. She loves hanging out with him, they get along awesomely. Conference went well, Kaia's doing fine in all areas (no big surprise to me) One thing that was a bit surprising is her reading level. She is a MARVELOUS reader at home, and though she is in one of the higher levels, on the assessment she missed several words that I KNOW she has down pat. Ah well....not going to stress about it or anything, I just wish she'd apply what she knows.

Did a small grocery shopping afterwards, not much since I'll be getting more on my food stamp card in a few days. I made hamburger strogonoff for dinner, and Kaia loudly voiced her dislike of the mushrooms. She is currently trying to out-wait me in the how-much-dinner-must-be-consumed-to-get-dessert. Little does she know that I am about to take her bowl, heave it into the sink, and send her to bed. patience...I must....find...patience.....

I also have a headache, though that's going away since I took something for it.

Oh! another thing to bitch about....I had forgotten that Mike had a meeting tonight, so wouldn't be home for dinner tonight and I was really looking forward to spending some time with him, he's so busy with school right now.

okay, bitching done. I am thankful for my husband and my children. I am thankful Kaia is doing well in school. I am thankful we can be here for Mike to be able to go to school. I am thankful Ben is gaining weight so well.
I may be a bit grumpy, but I AM aware of how lucky I continue to be.....

Oh Honey.....

My husband cracks me up. In an IloveyoutodeathbutHELLO!! sort of way, occasionally.

case in point:

FRIDAY, (writing this on Sunday) Mike went to an event put on by the Electronic Music Association at the University. He is the president, so spent a lot of energy making sure it all went well....that's his only excuse...well, and that it ended at 2 am.

Wait! He has one more excuse...he RARELY drives anywhere...he walks to work, and school.

SO. He drives the car to the event. Gets home around 2:30-3 am. Comes to bed.

Saturday, we spent at home...

This evening, Kaia, Ben and I had a Halloween party to go to, so we got ready and headed out the door....

Two minutes later, I call Mike... "Honey, where is the car?"

"The car?" he answers.

"Yes, THE CAR. Where IS IT?!"

"Oh........... shit." He says. "I forgot it."

He had gotten a ride home.

A new endeavor...wish me luck

made a couple changes....mainly added a few more blogs to the Blogs I Love part...so check them out! Also cleaned up my categories a bit...though it probably doesn't show.

I'm going to sign up for NaBloPoMo....National Blog Posting Month...which is November. All I have to agree to do is post every day for November! Gonna be difficult, but for some reason sounds right. Will readdress some old goals, and possibly make some new ones.

Ben was restless last night..didn't sleep until around 1:30-ugh! We fed him his first bottle of formula mixed with breast milk in the late afternoon. He took right to the bottle, and didn't seem at all confused when I fed him again later. We will probably feed him by bottle once a day, just to make sure he stays okay with it. In a few days, we'll let Kaia feed him it! She pretty excited about that. Oh, and I don't think the formula was what made him restless...he slept well after drinking it, and he gets restless in the early part of the night often. Not enough to really call it colic, but enough to be a bit stressful for all involved. Got some gas pills by Hyland's, and they seem to work.

Was going to post a picture Kaia drew of our new four-member family, but Blogger still won't let me....

not really a eulogy.....

My grandmother has been very depressed since the death of my grandfather several years ago. We've just found out that she stopped eating a couple weeks ago, so her time is near.

When my grandfather died, I was really upset. He was the most marvelous man, and though I didn't see him often, I felt very close to him. He is the reason that I made sure to find a man with a sense of humor, knowing that it is one of the most important things in this world.

It's a bit different with my grandmother. I do love her, but she has never been the type of grandmother that inspires closeness, or hugs, or even talking more than politeness requires. That seems very harsh, and please know that I know she loves me, and would do anything for me if I needed her to. But her life growing up wasn't pleasant (she's Jewish and had to flee Hitler-run Germany as a child), and she was very cold in her day to day interactions with even her family. My feelings toward her weren't helped by my mother's stories of life growing up with her as a step-mother, and my own time with her didn't dispel the feeling of distance and reserve.

As an adult, I am always uncomfortable when visiting her, and haven't seen her in a couple of years.

So now that she is at the end of her life, my feelings are mixed. Yes, I will be sad. But I have very few soft and fuzzy memories of her. I know that all she wants is to be with her husband again, and I know she is very unhappy here on earth. I feel bad about not feeling more upset, but that can't be helped, and I'm not going to demean the feelings I DO have by pretending to be more sad than I am.

Gammer, my Gammer. Whatever there is after death, I know you will be there with my Gaffer, and that that is what you want. Give each other hugs from me.

I love you, and I hope you find your peace.

O! My Aching Mammaries!

hee hee. Sorry, too much information, I know, but MY GOD, does this boy EAT. and eat.....then he's hungry, and decides to eat.

How often, you ask? well, I am typing one-handed....and don't really remember what it's like to use two hands to write a post, which is why I haven't updated again, this takes forever.

no pictures...sorry...tried...

Hello!! I promise I will start trying to write a bit more regularly...but it's been a bit of a blur around here. So here is a catch up blog - with pictures! edited: sorry, blogger is having issues with pictures, will try to post them later....

First things first--

A HUGE THANK YOU to Kathy, Tania, and Andrea for their help these past two weeks. Kathy, playing with Kaia was awesome, and really helped her feel special and loved. Tania, you went above and beyond what was necessary, and I owe you big time for it. Andrea, knowing you are there to call helped me not go totally bonkers, and coming to help made all the difference. I am so lucky to have all of you women as friends, I couldn't ask for better friends. Thank you, from deep in my soul.

Ben is eating extremely well....at birth, he was in the 13th percentile for weight, he is now near the 50th, and weighs almost NINE POUNDS!! (up from 7 lbs, 9 oz. 8 days ago) He is starting to be awake a little more, but still sleeping for the most part. We are working on getting him used to sleeping in the co-sleeper at night, which for the most part is failing, but we have a successful night, or couple of hours, every once in a while. He is the biggest cuddle-bug and loves nothing more than to sleep on someone, belly down. (yes, I know, back is best, he doesn't sleep on his stomach on someone unless that someone is awake.)

Kaia is doing well, and was able to sing Ben to sleep in the car when he was upset, a feat she is very proud of. He knows his sister's voice, and it does calm him. Tania also noticed that when Mike sings, he becomes very peaceful and calm.

I am doing well, though still tired (of course). Tania told me she feels I am handling everything excellently, and who am I to argue? :-) I only hope I can keep on top of things after she leaves, as it is easy to handle everything when someone else is doing your dishes, and laundry, and is currently upstairs vacuuming and has threatened you if you try to help!!

I filled out a survey this morning, and for the first time, checked the "stay at home mom" part instead of the "work full time away from home mom" part. hee hee....can't help it, it made me giggle. I am loving not working! I do miss the interaction with people a bit though...but can do that in other ways, especially after we move and I can join mommy groups and such.

All right, that is enough droning on for now....how are alla YOU doing?!

Ben Update

So far Ben seems pretty even tempered. Granted, it's only been two weeks, and he's slept through most of it.....

But still! I choose to be the biased parent and say he's just a happy little boy! Even when he cried, such as today when I put him in his car seat to head to swimming, he only seems to remember he's upset for a few minutes, then he stops and apparently adjusts to the new situation and finds it acceptable. At the doctor today, he only fussed for about 30 seconds after his heel got poked again for a blood test (required, not a big deal). The lab guy said he is the most calm baby he's seen in a long time.

Speaking of Dr. appointments, Ben has gained mucho weight! (relatively!)

Breakdown:

Birth: 6 lbs, 14 ounces

4 days later: 6 lbs, 2 ounces (lost more than average, but not enough to really worry yet)

at his one week appt: 6 lbs, 13 ounces! (they like to see them back at birth weight by TWO weeks)

at his two week appt: Seven pounds nine ounces!!

he jumped from the 13th percentile in weight to the 18th! Way to go Boyo! He's still pretty skinny, since that's still low, and he's in the 50th percentile for height, so he's tall for his weight. But the Dr. was very pleased with his weight gain, and so am I! he does love to eat......and sleep....and poop. my gosh, he likes to poop.

he also likes to pee on his daddy. Although I change more diapers than Michael, I have yet to be peed on, but Mike has had the honor NUMEROUS times. Hee hee.

Kaia is still loving being a big sister...her only complaints center around not being able to do MORE with Ben!

Where does she get this stuff?

Kaia today on the way home from swimming, trying to convince me to wait a couple of years after we move to sign her up for lessons again:

"If I did it summer AFTER this one, then I'd swim out even before the teacher told me to! It'd be ROCK AND ROLL!"

"Rock and roll, huh?"

"Yep! It'd be ROCKIN'!"

nuttin' much

Feeling better. Trying to come up with a post, but can't. Apparently still a bit brain dead. Should probably sleep.

Just watched the first two episodes of season 2 of Heroes. God, I love that show.

What's even more fun than trying to take care of a new baby while recovering from a c-section and tubal ligation???

Doing it while sick, of course!

Let the good times roll.






A big thank you to my mom, who left today, for all the NUMEROUS things she did to help us out. I could NOT have done it without her, and that's the truth!

the calm before the storm?

I feel I am in Limbo, since my mother is here taking care of everything. I walked into the kitchen tonight and looked around and almost felt I hadn't been in it in days--I have of course, to get food and such, but I haven't done any dishes, have cooked only a few things, and haven't really just walked in to see what could be done. It will be interesting to see how I do with making new routines now that I have a baby and don't work! Wish me luck.....

Some news.....

Hi! Haven't posted lately, have I? and I know! Having a baby is NO excuse! ;-)

Anyway, I'm sure (mostly, kinda) that I will get around to posting about the birth and all that, but since that's too long to think about right now, I'll just move on temporarily (hopefully, maybe)

Ben is sleeping. FINALLY. sheesh. He's been eating for almost 4 hours. straight. I mean, he'll take a break between boobs, for five minutes or so, but then he once looks at me as if he's about to expire from lack of nourishment. His eating schedule (though I guess "schedule" is way to technical of a term for something not even a week into) has been erratic. On the first day, Monday, he wouldn't eat at all until about 8 at night.

It stressed me out, even though the nurses said it was fine, because Kaia was so EASY to feed. After I came out of the recovery room, I went down to the nursery, met my daughter, and she latched on. And her schedule didn't change much after that. 5 minutes, one side, every few hours (the time in between changed of course, as she got older).

After he finally ate Monday, he didn't figure it out again very easily either. It took until sometime Tuesday for him to finally get it mostly down. and sometimes he'll go 3 hours before being hungry again, sometimes 2 minutes. Last night he was up almost continuously until about 3, then he was up 3 times after that before we got up at 7. And again, this morning it's been almost continuous. Now, that's not to say he's been actually GETTING anything the whole time. Takes a bit to recover! But what's scary is that this is the time where he is supposedly getting my supply up to his needs, so that when my milk comes FULLY in (it's slowly getting there), he'll have the right amount for HIM. Which is apparently going to be about a gallon a day.

He is SO FREAKIN' SWEET though. He lifts his head, looking like a little turtle, and looks right at me. and he's such a cuddle bug!! I love it. I might not so much in a few months, but right now I do.

I got all teary and emotional last night. from hormones, I'm sure, but again different from Kaia (and no, I didn't expect it to be the same, but I didn't have anything else to compare to!) It's a harder recovery from the c-section this time too, for some reason. Still glad I did it, and SO glad I was awake, but I feel like such an invalid!

Kaia is thrilled Ben is home. She's being a HUGE help, and staying so positive and cheerful. I love my girl, so much!

Ben is zonked out on my chest, so I think I will try to sleep too, before he decides he's hungry again!

Mike found out he did not get the job he had interviewed for, but the company wants to bring him back for an interview with another team. I understand this happens, but we will both feel SO much better once he has a job lined up. Send happy positive thoughts his way!

Quck Update

Mike's interview in Seattle went well. He's not wanting to get too hopeful, but he interviewed with all 5 members of the team, which according to a friend of ours that works there, is a good sign. not sure when hear if he got the job or not....he comes back tomorrow, will ask him then!

Thanks to my mother, my house is looking pretty damn good. We have to set up the play yard for downstairs and the co-sleeper for upstairs, but other than that, we're set.

So-the Plan:

Tomorrow I am going to my pre-op appointment. Kaia will either go next door or stay here wit her granny.
Sunday night, she'll head over to John and Andrea's to spend the night.
Monday morning, I go in EARLY for the c-section. Mike is coming in with me, and Andrea is driving down to join mom in the waiting room. After putting both kids on the bus, John will bring Kaia down to see us!

Many pictures of Boyo and our family to follow!

Day of Mixed Feelings

some of the good and some of the bad feelings and thoughts from today.....

good-it's nice to be able to take it easy, and have the excuse to do so.

bad-I've been taking it easy, which means my house is not in a good place...and I didn't have an excuse then.

bad-I was supposed to help out Andrea today so she could work, and wasn't able to.

bad-I was also going to go to the mustang adoption with her tomorrow, which I was really looking forward to, even though I don't own horses, and probably never will. It was going to be so nice to spend a day with her, doing something fun, without kids, before baby comes, before we move. I think this is the most irritating part of this.

good-my mother is coming early, which will be nice for both Kaia and I.

bad-I was very much hoping to have the house nice for her, so she didn't immediately feel the need to straighten it. I did get some things done, but trying not to over do it.

good-I am ready for baby, supplies-wise, even though right now not everything is set up. Even if baby had come last night, the only things that would have had to be done would be that set up, and since I am having a c-section, we'd (meaning everyone but me) would have had a few days to do so.

good-I found out that my secret dread-that if I went into labor before Monday, I'd be forced to try a vaginal birth-is unfounded. Even if I go back into labor, I can still have a c-section. (I know that probably sounds very odd to most people, but having a vaginal birth scares me horribly, whereas a c-section is familiar and I know I will recover just fine.

good-Not having the baby meant that Michael can still go for his interview, which I would have tried to insist he do anyway, but not sure if he'd have listened to me.

and for something neither good nor bad, and sounding completely silly, it's kind of just hitting me that VERY SOON there's going to be a baby in the house, and once again, I am in charge of it's safety and happiness...as well as Kaia's. Mike mentioned it too, we talked of when we left the hospital with Kaia 6 years ago, and after we were in the car, ready to go, all the hospital staff walked back into the hospital, and we looked at each other like "where are they GOING?!! They are just leaving us with this brand new human?! They are trusting us with her LIFE?!" Seemed insane that they would do that! And here we are again, about to bring life into the world, where we are his only chance of thriving....and HELLO!?! it's been SIX YEARS since we've had a baby! How are we to be trusted?!
But then we grin at each other....and oh, isn't this AWESOME?!! yes, yes, it is.

Then again, maybe not.

Baby Boyo tried to make his appearance tonight, but was DENIED! My doctor wants him in there just a bit longer if possible. Every day that he's in there is better for lung development. So we are still on for Monday, but now I have to take it easy, and can't do any of the things I'd planned on for the next two days. I was really looking forward to going to the mustang adoption with Andrea, but no go now.

Gonna take a bath (HATE the smell of hospital soap!) and head to bed!

oh!! and sending out a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!! to my baby sister.

do not read large print first. it's not true.

Yesterday on the way to swimming, Kaia and Katia were talking about it being one week until the baby comes. As I'm sure you know, weeks go by EXTREMELY slowly for children, and the constant "4 weeks left, 3 weeks left, 2 weeks left...." is starting to annoy Kaia to no end. Yesterday morning I had mentioned to Kaia that there is only ONE week left now before baby comes, and she was marginally excited. (She is still very excited about his coming, but not so much about the "FOREVER" it takes to have this promised boyo.)

So, anyway, back to car ride before swimming. Katia mentions that it's Monday. There is a pause, then Kaia beings to almost convulse in the back seat. She looks at me with a half desperately terrified, half desperately excited expression.

"Mom!! MOM! It's Monday! MONDAY!!!! IT'S MONDAY! The BABY IS COMING, THE BABY IS COMING TODAY!!!!!!"

I think she was terrified we'd miss the event. It actually took awhile for her to believe me that I knew better, and the baby was NOT coming. She seems to have a blurred notion of how involved I will be for said arrival. :-)

Life! Saved!

Today at swimming, I got to see the lifeguard in action! It was very cool, actually to see that the punk college kids knew their stuff. Little kid jumped in, just like he had in class every day, only this time there was no teacher around to catch him. Before the dad next to him could even react, the lifeguard had jumped in and had the kid back up. The kid didn't even have time to realize anything was wrong.

Here's to you, Lifeguard Guy. You ROCKED today!

Conversing with a 6 year old

"Can I ask a question mom? About whether or not a word is a bad word?"
"Of course, hon, you can ask me anything."
"Is 'shit' a bad word?"
"Yes, it is...."
"Am I in trouble for saying it to ask you?"
"Of course not, you can ask Daddy and me anything, and we won't get mad when you are just asking for information."


"Alright, sweetie, here's your cereal...I'm going to try to sleep for a bit more, ok?"
"Okay! Want me to sing you a sleep song?"
"umm....sure...."
"Go to sleep...go to sleep....good night...sleep well...go to sleep....go to sleep..." (repeat about 30 more times)
"thank you dear...that was nice...."
"I love you, mom"
"and I love you, dear one."

"Did you know that at the end of rainbows, there's a pot of gold?"
"That's just a story, sweetie, it's not real"
"The gold is fake?!"
"No......there is no pot of gold. It's actually impossible to FIND the end of the rainbow, it's an optical illusion."
"No, 'cause Brooklyn, at school, said SHE found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow once!"
"Well, it was either a pretty special rainbow, or she was making it up."
"No, she really did. She promised!"

In the bath together:
"I am going to wash baby brother, okay mom?"
"oh yes? how?"
she starts splashing my stomach.
"See? I want to wash his face, but don't know where it is, so I have to get your whole tummy wet."
"uh huh...."

"This bracelet baby brother can't play with cause he might choke...this (she holds up a plastic purse) he can't have because he might hide things in it so I can't find them....and this he can't have (she holds up another bracelet) because....can you guess why?"
"He would choke on it?"
"No!! He would....." and she sticks it up her nose.

ahead of the game

Baby Boyo has decided he needs to establish eating routines early, you know, just in case.

So, every morning, at about 3:45 am, he wakes me up demanding cereal. no matter that he's STILL IN MY BELLY, and can get nourishment whenever he wants it, oh no, he must HAVE CEREAL NOW!

actually, he'd probably be happy with any sort of food, but cereal is all I'm up for preparing at 3:45 am.

In which boyo gets a name...finally!

First things first, went to the doctor today, just a routine visit. Everything looks fine!

Secondly, we have finally decided on a name!!!! Mike and I sat down last night and talked about it, and narrowed it down to three names. One of them was Ben, the name I've been liking the best, but Mike has been hesitant, though he likes it too. He finally told me why he's been hesitant-when we mention it to Kaia, she's never liked it. I've tried several times, some nonchalantly, some excitedly, both Ben and Benjamin, but I always get a "no!" .....

Today, I told her we had three names, and we wanted to know which she liked best...I listed them, and she said, as if she'd NEVER heard of it before, "I like Benjamin! Can I call him Ben?"

sheesh, girl! Not about to give up this opportunity, however, I told Michael her thoughts, and he asked her again if she was sure that was the name she liked best. She nodded vigorously, and grinned at him. So I asked Mike if he had any other doubts about the name, and he said no, he's quite happy with it!

YAY!!!!! so, to introduce the newest member-to-be of our family, in a little less than two weeks,

Benjamin William Lyle

shall make his appearance!

(and what do you want to bet Kaia will claim all credit for naming him!?)

not trying to be depressing...truly

To my husband, if I die:

Be sure to tell our kids that if I could choose, I’d be there holding them tight, every day.
Tell them that they can talk to me, and though I can’t answer in words, my love answers them every time.
Print out my blog for them to read when they are older. In my Documents are older pages from my last blog.
Let them make their own decisions about who they want to be, and help their dreams come true, even if you don’t agree with those decisions.
Hug them EVERY DAY.
Keep laughter in their lives.
Teach them respect and love for all people, white, black, gay, straight, male, female, and all the others I don’t have room to write down.
Don’t let them put up with people who disrespect them.
Make sure they understand life isn’t fair, and it’s how we deal with that unfairness that counts.
Allow them time to cry.
Teach them that cash is a much smarter option than credit.
Tell them that they were my world, and I would have walked through fire to save them.
Don’t force them to read, instead help them discover a love of reading.
Always answer questions honestly, though geared toward their age.
Teach our son to put the toilet seat down.
Teach our daughter never to kick a boy in the balls-unless he’s being violent himself.
Print out doubles of all our photos and give each child a full set.

The fair!! and breakfast!! couldn't get better....

Yesterday evening we went to the county fair with Andrea and her family. Kaia LOVES fairs, and can't wait until she's tall enough to ignore all height restrictions. She is almost fearless when it comes to rides, and was highly put out when we vetoed the Paratrooper, as it went VERY fast, and none of the adults wanted to go on it! (we're old fuddy duddies!)

I, of course, couldn't go on ANY rides, because of Boy-o. I tried to sneak on to the carousel, but apparently they feel even that is to wild and crazy for us gestating ones. drat. I contemplated claiming I had a stomach tumor, and how dare they bring attention to it, and John recommended claiming I was stealing a basketball, but in the end I meekly admitted to being With Child, and was sternly turned away from the dangerous labor-inducing up and down motion of the pretend ponies.

Kaia and Liam took their first solo ferris wheel ride, and laughed the whole time. They continued to laugh uproariously on every ride they went on, except the little-kid whale ride, which they found too tame at their advanced ages of 6 and 5.

One of the favorite attractions was the saloon fun house, which featured large paintings of lewd women and foolishly grinning cowboys. Each time we walked by, the kids would take 3-4 tours, leaving us outside to listen to the loud BANG BANG BANG of the metal sidewalk part of it.

We did no games, usually I let Kaia do one, but I really didn't want to bring home any junk, and the expense was unnecessary, to say the least. I got her a bracelet for unlimited rides, and we ate "dinner" there. I swear, it's ridiculous that I'm allowed to eat carnie food, but the carousel is labelled "too risky". My favorite thing was the caramel apple slices, and I plan to make those frequently, now that I realize you can cut the apple up before covering in caramel, an ingenious idea!

We also watched a very small part of the rodeo, but the announcer and the clown were idiots and took up too much time gabbing, so we left soon, and went to the animal barns.

oh my!!! my wonderful man has just made us breakfast!! Going to enjoy it....talk more later!

On a lighter note....

- This morning on the way to the bus stop, Kaia and I were walking behind a mom and her daughter. Kaia mentioned that they were both "very dark". I said yes, they were a nice brown color. Kaia said "Yes, they are a VERY pretty color!" I don't understand people who want their kids to not notice color. I want Kaia to see it, and revel in the fact that humans come in so many wonderful shades.

- We are going to a fair tomorrow! Kaia loves fairs, should be a blast. I will bring my camera, as I will sadly be unable to partake in the rides.

- Kaia has a sibling education class at the hospital on Saturday! Should be a lot of fun for her, she gets to learn all about how to be a big sister.

- On Saturday night, she'll be spending the night at Andrea's, and Mike and I will be having a wonderful time watching some more Buffy!

- Sunday I plan to dedicate to getting my house in better shape. It's seriously stressing me out.

-Wish Michael mucho luck at the career fair he is attending tomorrow!!!!