Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Word vomit
Amy's big mouth gets her in trouble: Chapter 94
A girl I barely know (but hope to know better) told me she was pregnant because it came up in conversation while I was at her house helping her with a project. She just mentioned in passing and the entire discussion was about 12 seconds long. Congratulations! How are you feeling? That kind of thing.
Then her mother in law came over and it came up again, so I mentioned it "so, do you know what you're having yet?"
Her MIL's head tweaked a bit and I immediately felt sick. I resisted the urge to physically cover my mouth with my hands and my eyes got as big as....something big, and she quietly whispered "no, not really. We're only 12 weeks along."
Then her MIL said "Oh my gosh! Am I missing something here?" and then I really did cover my stupid-big-fat mouth with my hands and said "oh my gosh, did I just out you? I'm so sorry!"
It was like 2 days before Christmas, and I'm sure she was planning to tell in some really cute way on Christmas, and why worry about telling me when it's that close to "we're telling people" time anyway? It's not like she's going to see me (or anyone else) in the next 2 days anyway, and who am I gonna tell? (answer: the whole blogging world.)
Can you imagine having to explain to your MIL why some random person who you barely know knew about your new baby before she did? There's no "we weren't telling people yet" excuse because you clearly told someone. So bad. So so so bad!
How do I fix this? "Gee. Sorry I ruined your grandchild announcement! Please invite me over to play sometime, OK?" Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
A girl I barely know (but hope to know better) told me she was pregnant because it came up in conversation while I was at her house helping her with a project. She just mentioned in passing and the entire discussion was about 12 seconds long. Congratulations! How are you feeling? That kind of thing.
Then her mother in law came over and it came up again, so I mentioned it "so, do you know what you're having yet?"
Her MIL's head tweaked a bit and I immediately felt sick. I resisted the urge to physically cover my mouth with my hands and my eyes got as big as....something big, and she quietly whispered "no, not really. We're only 12 weeks along."
Then her MIL said "Oh my gosh! Am I missing something here?" and then I really did cover my stupid-big-fat mouth with my hands and said "oh my gosh, did I just out you? I'm so sorry!"
It was like 2 days before Christmas, and I'm sure she was planning to tell in some really cute way on Christmas, and why worry about telling me when it's that close to "we're telling people" time anyway? It's not like she's going to see me (or anyone else) in the next 2 days anyway, and who am I gonna tell? (answer: the whole blogging world.)
Can you imagine having to explain to your MIL why some random person who you barely know knew about your new baby before she did? There's no "we weren't telling people yet" excuse because you clearly told someone. So bad. So so so bad!
How do I fix this? "Gee. Sorry I ruined your grandchild announcement! Please invite me over to play sometime, OK?" Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Rolly-polly Thomas
Last night I went running even thought I didn't want to.
I got out from under the snuggly blanket on the couch and put on my much less snuggly running clothes.
I loaded my iPod with the last of the book I'm listening to (Skybreaker - I highly recommend it, but it's the 2nd in the series so read Airborn first.)
And I braved the frozen tundra that was my neighborhood to head for the gym.
It was a great run, my 5k finished well within 30 minutes. The story's end was just getting better and better. Life was great and I was glad I had gone.
I came home and heard the tv on and the child SCREAMING bloody murder from the bathroom. I ran up the stairs to see if I could help Josh with the "getting out of the bathtub" trauma that Thomas just can't seem to get over and as soon as I set foot in the bathroom doorway the 5 year old version of my husband grabbed my diaper-clad babe turned around with a grin that puts the Cheshire Cat to shame and started jumping up and down and saying "guess what! guess what! guess what!"
Of course I responded "What! what! what!" (is there any other response for that?) and then he put on his Thomas Voice
Thomas Voice: "Guess what I did for daddy mommy?"
Me: "What babe?" I said looking Thomas straight in the eye because it's rude to not make eye contact when you're talking to someone.
TV: "You have to guess."
Me: "You....screamed your head off during your bath."
TV: "Nooooope."
Me: "OK Just tell me then."
TV: "I wolled I wolled I wolled!" Thomas has a hard time saying his "r's".
Me: "What?!?!?! Without me?!?!?!?!"
Josh: "Yep! Just for me" Josh gloats.
That's what I get for running when I really don't want to. I spend at least 23 hours a day with this kid, and he goes around rolling over as soon as I set foot out of the house. Rude.
On the enormously fantastic side: My baby rolled over! All by himself! Weird how proud I am. We hugged and kissed and danced and talked about how smart his is and talked about how much I love him and how happy I am for him because this is a big. deal.
The dancing, celebrating and shouting was a really great "winding down" activity for bedtime. Maybe that's why he thought he'd wake up for the day at 3am....hmmmmm
I got out from under the snuggly blanket on the couch and put on my much less snuggly running clothes.
I loaded my iPod with the last of the book I'm listening to (Skybreaker - I highly recommend it, but it's the 2nd in the series so read Airborn first.)
And I braved the frozen tundra that was my neighborhood to head for the gym.
It was a great run, my 5k finished well within 30 minutes. The story's end was just getting better and better. Life was great and I was glad I had gone.
I came home and heard the tv on and the child SCREAMING bloody murder from the bathroom. I ran up the stairs to see if I could help Josh with the "getting out of the bathtub" trauma that Thomas just can't seem to get over and as soon as I set foot in the bathroom doorway the 5 year old version of my husband grabbed my diaper-clad babe turned around with a grin that puts the Cheshire Cat to shame and started jumping up and down and saying "guess what! guess what! guess what!"
Of course I responded "What! what! what!" (is there any other response for that?) and then he put on his Thomas Voice
Thomas Voice: "Guess what I did for daddy mommy?"
Me: "What babe?" I said looking Thomas straight in the eye because it's rude to not make eye contact when you're talking to someone.
TV: "You have to guess."
Me: "You....screamed your head off during your bath."
TV: "Nooooope."
Me: "OK Just tell me then."
TV: "I wolled I wolled I wolled!" Thomas has a hard time saying his "r's".
Me: "What?!?!?! Without me?!?!?!?!"
Josh: "Yep! Just for me" Josh gloats.
That's what I get for running when I really don't want to. I spend at least 23 hours a day with this kid, and he goes around rolling over as soon as I set foot out of the house. Rude.
On the enormously fantastic side: My baby rolled over! All by himself! Weird how proud I am. We hugged and kissed and danced and talked about how smart his is and talked about how much I love him and how happy I am for him because this is a big. deal.
The dancing, celebrating and shouting was a really great "winding down" activity for bedtime. Maybe that's why he thought he'd wake up for the day at 3am....hmmmmm
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A good cause
Remember my friend Kristina? The one who has twins and changes sheets while they jump on the bed? She's quite the amazing person.
Earlier this year she was diagnosed with MS and she's participating in Walk MS which is pretty amazing considering that less than 6 months ago (how long has it been Kristina?) she was completely paralyzed and in a wheel chair.
So because I know a million of you are generous caring people who either love Kristina (Hi Kristina's mom!) or have experience with MS (Hi Aundrea and Tambi!) or like to walk (Hi Sue!) or have a spare $25 (Hi!......OK, I don't know anybody like that....) or just like to participate in a good cause, I thought I'd let you know about it.
Here's the info on Kristina's blog, and if you'd like to participate even if you only know her through me, I'm relatively certain she would love to have you on her team.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Not to make you feel bad....
I don't want to hurt your feelings or make you feel bad or anything, but my husband is better than yours.
Even if you were married to Brad Pitt I'd tell you my husband is better looking. (Angelina? Are you out there?)
Even if you were married to Ghandi I'd tell you my husband is kinder. (......uh.....Mother Theresa? are you out there?....eh well. no matter. it was a stretch anyway.)
Even if you were married to my dad, I'd tell you my husband is a better dad (but just barely). (Mom? Hi!)
Because in real life I'm married to the greatest man alive.
This is a man who covers me with a blanket when I fall asleep on the couch. A man who did all of the Sunday dishes (unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, AND washed, dried and put away the handwash) the same day they were used. A man who set the table during my aforementioned nap (with napkins!) and even woke up early this morning with our very hungry baby so I could sleep in.
Even if you were married to Brad Pitt I'd tell you my husband is better looking. (Angelina? Are you out there?)
Even if you were married to Ghandi I'd tell you my husband is kinder. (......uh.....Mother Theresa? are you out there?....eh well. no matter. it was a stretch anyway.)
Even if you were married to my dad, I'd tell you my husband is a better dad (but just barely). (Mom? Hi!)
Because in real life I'm married to the greatest man alive.
This is a man who covers me with a blanket when I fall asleep on the couch. A man who did all of the Sunday dishes (unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, AND washed, dried and put away the handwash) the same day they were used. A man who set the table during my aforementioned nap (with napkins!) and even woke up early this morning with our very hungry baby so I could sleep in.
It's OK if you're jealous, I understand.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Bread Recipe
Dear Jenni (and anyone else who wants it),
I don't have your e-mail address or any better way to get in touch with you, so, here's the bread recipe. :)
4 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
6 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp Yeast
4 cups warm water
10-11 cups flour
Mix & knead. Let rise 1/2 hour (or until double). Form into loaves. Let rise 1/2 hour (again). Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour.
Enjoy!
I don't have your e-mail address or any better way to get in touch with you, so, here's the bread recipe. :)
4 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
6 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp Yeast
4 cups warm water
10-11 cups flour
Mix & knead. Let rise 1/2 hour (or until double). Form into loaves. Let rise 1/2 hour (again). Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour.
Enjoy!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas: The nuts & bolts
Wanna know what was so great about Christmas this year?
Here's the short list. (Ha! As if I'm capable of a short list....bwa ha ha ha ha!)
Here's the short list. (Ha! As if I'm capable of a short list....bwa ha ha ha ha!)
My tree (aka the light holder...)
My mom's table settings. Lovely huh?
The nativity my nieces & nephews always do.
Christmas cards from friends.
Treats from more friends.
Our new Fontanini.
Baby's first Christmas. He's thrilled, can you tell?
Santa always seems to find us and provides our stocking stuffings every year. I heart Santa.
Baby "opened" his Christmas presents.
Part of our stocking stuffers from Santa were the ingredients to build something.
We built a creature.
Currently the name of the creature is up in the air - any suggestions? Here's a closer look.
Grandma loved the calendar Misty built for her.
Dorky Christmas outfit #2 lasted longer than the first one.
Josh was totally surprised by his new mountain bike. And he was excited enough that he rode it around the block. He really likes it and that makes me happy.
We got to talk to Caleb (Josh's younger brother who is serving a mission in Oklahoma).
My baby showed off his toe-spreading abilities. He gets it from me.
Cousins-Matching-Dorky-Christmas-Outfit photo shoot went well.
In all it was a very Merry Christmas.
All I ever wanted
This year I had everything I ever wanted for Christmas.
And I couldn't help but cry remembering last year when he was all ever wanted, and I had no idea how great he'd be.
And this year - even though he's dressed like a dork - I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement that I get to be his mom.
And I'm even more thankful that I don't have to do it alone because what better team is there than this?
Having my own family to celebrate with is every bit as great as I imagined.
And I couldn't help but cry remembering last year when he was all ever wanted, and I had no idea how great he'd be.
And this year - even though he's dressed like a dork - I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement that I get to be his mom.
And I'm even more thankful that I don't have to do it alone because what better team is there than this?
Having my own family to celebrate with is every bit as great as I imagined.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Running & Christmas Surprises
This morning I went running again and in my 35 minutes (plus 45 seconds because I was technically "cooling down" the last 5 minutes) I ran 3.5 miles.
It was good and I'm proud of me.
Plus I have a totally SWEET Christmas/Birthday present for Josh. And he has no idea that he's getting anything he doesn't know about. Surprises really are better than "ooh look! It's the sweater you made me try on before buying! And the game I picked out for myself! Thank you santa!!!"
I can't wait to see his face Christmas morning.
It was good and I'm proud of me.
Plus I have a totally SWEET Christmas/Birthday present for Josh. And he has no idea that he's getting anything he doesn't know about. Surprises really are better than "ooh look! It's the sweater you made me try on before buying! And the game I picked out for myself! Thank you santa!!!"
I can't wait to see his face Christmas morning.
Avoiding complacency: or why my baby will never sleep through the night twice in a row.
We're "bring it on" kind of people. We don't like to get comfy and cozy and ride through life with everything going easy. So, as soon as we've mastered one thing we'll completely abandon it and move on to the next. This is why the Wii fit is covered in 6 months of dust, the "menu plan" has more scribbling-outs than check marks on it, and the Christmas shopping is officially declared "over" once I find one perfect present.
So since Thomas slept CLEAR through the night, we thought we'd better mix it up a bit.
And we took the plunge, moving him from his oh-so-cozy car seat to the big-bad-crib-of-death-and-destruction. Or at least that's how he saw it.
It started with naps - which did not go well. We tried to "cry it out" which sucks and is not successful for us. EVER. Please don't recommend Babywise. So we rocked him and soothed him and assured him that the crib isn't such a bad place. He seemed to prefer the "crying it out" since that's what he did anyway. Then we I name-called and told him not to be such a cry-baby and reminded him we I could sell him to the gypsies any time we I wanted. Then we I felt guilty for picking on my baby. Plus he was doing the adorable pouty face that you can't help but love.
Nap time was over by then. So we opted to eat instead of sleep. If I had a nickel for every time I opted to eat instead of sleep....
At bed time I was just thankful I wasn't alone anymore and Josh was there to help. 2 on 1 seems like better odds in any situation. And I showed him my appreciation.....by abandoning him for the gym.
That night Thomas slept until about 2:30 in the morning - when I again showed Josh my appreciation by making him get up with the babe. After one night I was already adjusted to sleeping through the night and couldn't function without a full night's sleep. Josh tells me he ate and went right back down, but Josh is much less whiney than me (I've pretty much covered the "I'm a whiney brat" territory right?) so I'm not sure what "right back down" really means.
Yesterday he managed 1.5 naps in his crib with relatively little sobbing.
Today it's only 1:30 and he's done 2 full naps in his crib after sleeping until 4:30 this morning.
If he keeps this up we may have to move his bed out on the balcony just for the challenge.
So since Thomas slept CLEAR through the night, we thought we'd better mix it up a bit.
And we took the plunge, moving him from his oh-so-cozy car seat to the big-bad-crib-of-death-and-destruction. Or at least that's how he saw it.
It started with naps - which did not go well. We tried to "cry it out" which sucks and is not successful for us. EVER. Please don't recommend Babywise. So we rocked him and soothed him and assured him that the crib isn't such a bad place. He seemed to prefer the "crying it out" since that's what he did anyway. Then we I name-called and told him not to be such a cry-baby and reminded him we I could sell him to the gypsies any time we I wanted. Then we I felt guilty for picking on my baby. Plus he was doing the adorable pouty face that you can't help but love.
Nap time was over by then. So we opted to eat instead of sleep. If I had a nickel for every time I opted to eat instead of sleep....
At bed time I was just thankful I wasn't alone anymore and Josh was there to help. 2 on 1 seems like better odds in any situation. And I showed him my appreciation.....by abandoning him for the gym.
That night Thomas slept until about 2:30 in the morning - when I again showed Josh my appreciation by making him get up with the babe. After one night I was already adjusted to sleeping through the night and couldn't function without a full night's sleep. Josh tells me he ate and went right back down, but Josh is much less whiney than me (I've pretty much covered the "I'm a whiney brat" territory right?) so I'm not sure what "right back down" really means.
Yesterday he managed 1.5 naps in his crib with relatively little sobbing.
Today it's only 1:30 and he's done 2 full naps in his crib after sleeping until 4:30 this morning.
If he keeps this up we may have to move his bed out on the balcony just for the challenge.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas
Christmas at our house has generally been...less than Merry and relatively full of anxiety, stress, and whining from me. (Hard to imagine since I always have such a good attitude about things huh?)
Then a couple of nights ago in the middle of a particularly whiny and stressed out tirade from me, Josh told me that this wasn't fun anymore.
I (quite sarcastically and in the "I'm laying a trap for you and no matter what you say I'll be more mad than I already am" voice) asked Josh if he wanted his money back and trade me for a "fun" wife.
Without missing a beat he told me he didn't want his money back, he just wanted his wife back.
Normally I would've been hurt, offended, grouchy, and reminded him that it's all his fault anyway - but somehow a miracle happened (must be due to Christmas) and I realized that I wanted his wife back too.
So, I took a gigantic deep breath, boosted my oversized butt onto the counter and cut into a warm fresh loaf of bread. I did it without even counting to see if we had enough loaves or examining to make sure we were eating the "ugliest" one. (Sorry if you are the poor person who wound up with the ugliest one....that wasn't very considerate of me.)
And just like that, over a warm loaf of bread (yes the whole dang thing) and a much needed attitude change, Josh and I enjoyed Christmas for the first time this year while sitting on the counter, laughing and fighting over the last piece of bread (which we split).
And when I woke up with Thomas the next morning I fed him on the love sac in front of the tree, and we snuggled and ate and basked in the beauty of the lights and enjoyed each other's company. Turns out I was right, my tree is 10 times prettier when I see it as a reflection in my baby's eyes.
I love these parts of Christmas.
Then a couple of nights ago in the middle of a particularly whiny and stressed out tirade from me, Josh told me that this wasn't fun anymore.
I (quite sarcastically and in the "I'm laying a trap for you and no matter what you say I'll be more mad than I already am" voice) asked Josh if he wanted his money back and trade me for a "fun" wife.
Without missing a beat he told me he didn't want his money back, he just wanted his wife back.
Normally I would've been hurt, offended, grouchy, and reminded him that it's all his fault anyway - but somehow a miracle happened (must be due to Christmas) and I realized that I wanted his wife back too.
So, I took a gigantic deep breath, boosted my oversized butt onto the counter and cut into a warm fresh loaf of bread. I did it without even counting to see if we had enough loaves or examining to make sure we were eating the "ugliest" one. (Sorry if you are the poor person who wound up with the ugliest one....that wasn't very considerate of me.)
And just like that, over a warm loaf of bread (yes the whole dang thing) and a much needed attitude change, Josh and I enjoyed Christmas for the first time this year while sitting on the counter, laughing and fighting over the last piece of bread (which we split).
And when I woke up with Thomas the next morning I fed him on the love sac in front of the tree, and we snuggled and ate and basked in the beauty of the lights and enjoyed each other's company. Turns out I was right, my tree is 10 times prettier when I see it as a reflection in my baby's eyes.
I love these parts of Christmas.
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