Yankees Down South

2011-01-11T19:54:00.000-05:00

IMPORTANT!!!!!!

2011-01-11T18:08:00.003-05:00

An important message for my readers:

WE HAVE MOVED!!!!!

PLEASE CHANGE YOUR BOOKMARKS , and remember to follow us at:

3southernbelles.blogspot.com

Look for new features to the site as you enjoy what we're up to, or not as is the case the past few days. See ya'all there! (Couldn't resist, and I actually think that is the first -- and probably last time -- I have EVER used that word semi-seriously.)

stay tuned

2011-01-11T16:12:00.002-05:00

2 going on 3 full days of being at home and I haven't blogged at all. Hopefully tomorrow I'll tell you all about the snow.

And ice.

Because we'll all be home again.

I'm in love...

2011-01-08T13:59:00.009-05:00

WOW!

I'm quite upset that this awesome picture is a little less awesome because of "Pinky Dinky Doo" on the tv in the background. I think it is fabulous.

In fact, I would count it nearly as good as this one barring the background...

And then of course there is this one I have of an 8x10 at my desk with Greta -- over 5 years ago.

Stunning, even in a solo photo...

and finally,

he's not just handsome and photogenic,

he is an awesome father who will even play Dance Dance Revolution with 2/3 of his children, the final third not yet able to actually dance.

Happy Belated-on-the-blog Birthday Chris/Daddy! We love you!

New Year New Me

2011-01-08T08:10:00.004-05:00

Not really. I couldn't think of a good title for this post, so really I am tongue in cheeking with what I see out there. Blogs are a dime a dozen. Any fool can -- and does -- have a blog. It gets me frustrated at times, am I just one of "those"? The masses? Well, yes, I am.

The ones who post their Year in Review.

Nope.

The ones who post their Resolutions.

Nope.

The ones who post their current reading list as well as their goal for the year. Well, maybe. I think I can do that for you. Are you ready? Here you go:

Now, moving on.

In between my games of Solitaire, which I have actually cut back on (Why can't I ever win 2 games in a row?), clearing my inbox of annoying Yankee Candle, Pottery Barn, World Market and a few other emails which seem to come almost hourly...I actually haven't been doing much. I realized I took very little Christmas pictures, certainly none of the ones showing my precious children lit while calming sitting amidst twinkling Christmas tree lights while surrounded by the intensity of the promise of presents. I'll try to start including a few soon, and luckily my sister sent some my way as well so that will help.

Here's the girls waiting to go to Build a Bear. It was a lot of fun, of course. I actually really really want the dress that Clara's animal is wearing...the shoes aren't too bad either. Hmm, what has my life come to me that I am jealous of the clothing a stuffed animal wears? Good thing they aren't too into Barbies, I could have a real problem.

Greta has a birthday party at the Bowling Alley today -- Chris and I are terrified that she will actually like bowling (she has been once bcfore and did) and we will have to go some time -- the grocery store is high on the list -- we are out of easy breakfast foods so now I have no choice but to make pancakes and I must create space for the Christmas presents. And that's just by 2:00 pm. Happy Saturday!

don't be impressed

2011-01-06T17:01:00.004-05:00

It is with sheer force that I write this blog post. It's not because I don't want to, don't get me wrong. In fact, I have about 5 posts churning in my brain to write. But blogging is a routine, and once out of that routine, it's hard to get back in the saddle. It's hard to find those moments when this is important and fun to me. Which it is, once I get started. As I write this, Greta is at swimming lessons, Hadley is sleeping, and I finally turned on the tv so Clara (really me) could relax for a few minutes. I SHOULD be heating up the oven to throw in dinner, cleaning the dishes already accumulated in the sink, putting away presents that arrived in the mail being shipped from Christmas in Michigan, (it was like Christmas morning all over again. What a mess.) cleaning up the cat puke irritatingly close to my foot at the moment, cleaning any other number of rooms or floors in the house, or playing Solitaire. Our new addiction. Chris downloaded it to our phones a couple of weeks ago, and now we can't stop. We're both addicted, and that's an entire blog post all to itself. Hold your horses people, an entire post just on us playing Solitaire! I know, chain you down. Anyways, we're back to school/work this week, and back to our crazy life. I have found that pulling myself out of bed at 5:45 versus 6:00 really does make a world of difference, and if I could manage 5:35 I would be sitting pretty, but that's a goal for another week.

We made resolutions, and we've kept them all week. I really don't usually pay attention to resolutions, because why stress myself about breaking them, but these are some positive life habits that are fairly easy for us all, so I figured why not. I'm not going to tell you what they are, just in case.

I'm not big into "Year in Review" posts, so while I probably won't do one, you might see a Year in Photos. Maybe. There are too many other things to do, and I might have to squeeze in a game of Solitaire while dinner's cooking. In between the dishes. And the broom...and the, oh, laundry....

Patience

2010-12-22T14:24:00.004-05:00

Oh to be 5 again.

Not really.

But oh to be 5, and have the pre-holiday excitement coursing through my veins. The mere thought of the magic of Santa just electrifying my very existence. The anticipation, the sweets, the holiday shows, the no-school, the travel -- the HOLIDAYISNESS OF LIFE. It's almost too much to take in.

Greta is completely beside herself with holiday glee. At least once a day she announces how "totally excited she is" (yup, totally) "I just can't STAND it anymore".

Oh to be 5 again.

When each day is a new surprise, each moment a fresh endeavor, each holiday a new creation, and each night cozy and peaceful.

Oh.

The Countdown is On

2010-12-19T16:15:00.004-05:00

It's just that time of year. I'm glad this past week is over. The last week before a holiday break and -- whew -- we're all wiped out. We did manage to eek out a snow day in there, because somewhere in the county a rural road had a patch of ice. Oh well. Here's a quick update of the kiddos:

Hadley: happy as usual, though has given up sleeping. I was literally up 7 times with her last night. Not for long, but up is up.

Clara: enjoys singing. Her speciality so far? "Jesus loves me so you better not shout you better not cry...". It's going to be a new crossover classic.

Greta: is all about Santa. Our neighbor brought the kids each a gift today that "Santa" delivered to his house early. As Greta carried around the princess Barbie dolls, because heaven forbid she actually PLAY with them, she declared: "these toys smell JUST like Santa's elves!" I admit I had to take a whiff, thoroughly intrigued as to what smell that was. Turns out, plastic. Must've been a Chinese elf. (Get it? Toys, made in China.... Just wanted to make sure every knew I wasn't making a racial slur or anything.)

A post for the middle child.

2010-12-12T19:11:00.003-05:00

You better watch out...

you better not cry...

you better not pout!

I'm telling you why!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

To My 4 month old

2010-12-11T18:02:00.003-05:00

I need to freeze you, just the way you are.

To stop time from changing one fold of skin,

one bat of an eye,

one smell.

I need a magic memory to guarantee

that I will never forget

the softness of you cheeks

the grasp of your fingers

or the scent of your milky breath.

I need a photograph of every

moment you wake up

and the first thing you do

is acknowledge both of our existences

with a smile that moves your entire

head and makes your eyes change shape.

I need to jump into your eyes

to swim around and see what just

what you are looking at.

I need to know what you feel in your heart,

just as you know my heart

even better than I do,

for you lived so close to it for so long

and always will no matter

how far away you may be.

I need you as you are now,

but I need to watch you grow as well

to do your big things

and live your life

and make new skin, and new smiles, and new smells.

They might not always be as pleasant as they are now,

but I will love them because they

will be yours.

ahhh that life...

2010-12-08T14:28:00.003-05:00

...sometimes it tickles you with a feather.

...other days it hits you like a pillow.

...other days it's like a pie in the face.

And then,

there are those days.

You know what I'm talking about.

When life leans back

takes a big swing

and hits you with a ton of bricks

and says

'figure your way out of this one. Unscathed. You have 10 minutes.'

I have recently embraced Nestles semi-sweet chocolate chunks. Originally meant to accent cookies which will be teacher gifts, they have become my partner in crime this week fighting their way against the bricks life is hurtling, one load at a time. They're not holding up their end of the bargain though, and seem to be doing nothing but making my pants tight, my teeth fuzzy, and now I have to go to the store for this one ingredient.

POW!

Look out for those bricks!

Thanks for Asking!

2010-12-07T16:44:00.003-05:00

So, what's new with you? Not much here.

I love saying that, because then it inevitably (wow it took me a long time for my fingers to dance out that word correctly) means I will come up with a ridiculous amount of useless stuff to share with you.

It snowed! Yup, real quarter-sized snowflakes. We of course ran outside to dance in the snowflakes, which were mixed in with some rain drops weighted down with slush so we ended up a tad wet. But all in all, it snowed and it was great. I know so far the girls will never experience real snow. I laugh at school as I regale teachers with stories of kids wearing snowpants and snow boots to school and having to actual budget time in the day to dress and undress at recess time. Here we're lucky if everyone wears a coat. AND, it snowed, and it didn't even thunder 10 days ago. Because that's what happens you know. If it thunders in the winter time, it will snow in 10 days. Guaranteed. (I'll admit it, it's possible. I've seen it.)

Barf. Barf happens. And it happened. I ignored the all too familiar (as in daily) "mom I have a stomachache", because frankly it was 2:30 in the morning and it's the same song and dance. Same crap different day. Only today clearly was different, because only seconds later and a fountain of vomit was mere inches from my ear decorating the floor between my nightstand and bed. I will hold off on the rest of this story which involves a strong desire for PopTarts and shopping, going to school, going home, and otherwise doing just fine. Suffice it to say that after the party Hadley wanted to throw dancing and talking and laughing for 2 hours during the night, then trying to come down from the high of dealing with a vomiting child, I was a bit behind on my sleep quota for the night.

Incidentally -- for those of you suddenly remembering "the Christmas Sickness" of, what was it -- '08? -- I am hoping that this completely runs it course before our big visit. So far we haven't had any recaps of the overnight entertainment. We'll keep you posted before you arm us all with Lysol and face masks, put us in a room with windows and view us like zoo creatures. Santa, keep your gloves on and don't eat the cookies we left for you! I kid, I kid.

I am done with Christmas shopping with the exception of two quick gifts, of which I will not mention here lest the gift givers be spoiled.

It is cold here. REALLY REALLY COLD. As in, a high of upper 30's with a windchill below that. COLD PEOPLE. And...shhh...but I think...

I'm turning southern.

No, I don't say ya'll, speak with a twang, or eat grits.

But I sort of...

maybe don't really prefer...

the cold.

EEEEGADS. What happened to me? I used to roll in winter. I used to live for winter. I used to -- sidenote, I just had to rewrite this sentence because I spelled used "use". oh my -- I used to look forward to my layers and layers of coats and scarves and sweaters and mittens. And now....I'd simply prefer something between 62 and 70. Enough for various layers depending upon chosen activity. Whether this comes with age, with climate, or simply the factor that bundling 3 little people in said layers, making sure hats, scarves and any other wintery implements make it to and from school each day could be a new Olympic sport, I don't know. But I do know that Saturday is going to be 54 degrees, of which I will savor before Monday's high of 29. At least I'm getting good use of my winter gear this year!

Winter Wonderland!

2010-12-04T15:02:00.001-05:00

It's raining, it's sleeting, it's snowing!

Scat!

2010-12-04T11:18:00.003-05:00

Dear Neighborhood Cat,

Thank you so much for putting us on your visiting schedule! It is so kind of you to come to our house several times a week. You seem like a real cutie pie, though because you come so late at night, I don't get a good look at you. Since we're on the subject of late at night, perhaps you could...er...um...change that a bit. See, we people like to sleep when it's dark. Especially in this house. Rarely will you see our lights on past 9:30. PM. Of course, perhaps that's why you like our house.

I'm assuming you were originally drawn here by our own precious feline. But therein lies the problem. You see, our sweet furry niblet is an indoor cat. This might surprise you, being the cat-about-town you seem to be. But she prefers it that way. She went out. Once. And does not wish to repeat that experience. She also tends to be a wee bit, shall we say,

territorial.

Meaning, she doesn't really like other cats -- or animals for that matter -- to tread upon her existence. She growls at delivery trucks. And the mailman. She's not one to befriend strangers, and strange -- make that unknown -- cats top that list.

Sooo, that brings us to your visits. We always know when you are here peeking in our window, because it is like Tasmanian Devil meets Chubacca as far as the most heinous sound ringing through our rafters. I know you hear it. It's directed at you ya' know. The caterwaul. The scream. The first few times it just about sent us through the walls and left us shaking in our bedsheets. Now we're more used to it, we know it's just you visiting, but it's still not a pleasant way to be woken from slumber, if there is a pleasant way at all.

So I'm going to have to ask that you take us off your nightly stroll. I've put paper on the windows so you can't see in, and our one and only can't see you. That helps, but just when I take the paper down thinking you have forgotten us, there you go showing up again. So I am going to have to appeal to you for help. I'm sure you're great. I caught a glimpse of you trotting away once, you look well-fed thus you must be well-loved. I'll spread the word, if you just find somewhere else to visit.

Please.

And thank you.

Nearing December

2010-11-30T18:04:00.003-05:00

Here we are, on the eve of December.

The Christmas lights are twinkling.

The presents are planned.

The kids are excited.

The parents are excited.

The countdown is on.

Placing the Blame

2010-11-29T19:56:00.002-05:00

I blame YOU, internet. I was late coming on board to embrace all you had to offer in the first place, and now I am finding my very existence challenged when you are not immediately at my fingertips. Low...I have been known to go to the computer and search for the current weather conditions instead of walking outside my door. Yes, that includes checking the radar to see it actually IS rain that is coming down outside. Like I really needed technological confirmation. However, I do.

My smartphone fuels my withdrawal symptoms I feel upon long absences. ACK! The playground! Do they have wi-fi? ACK! a long walk around the neighborhood -- whose Facebook status changed? ACK! A FULL DAY WORKSHOP AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER -- THE HORROR!

Dramatic as it might seem, I am a product of this generation. I admit it. And now, with the holiday season upon us, my Christmas shopping grossly under planned, I find myself once again turning to my friend for answers. However, no matter what search engine I try, "Christmas present for _____" just doesn't show up. You mean I actually have to use my brain? I have to delve into creativity? I have to THINK on my OWN? ACK!

I google, therefore I am.

Sneak Peek

2010-11-27T19:45:00.003-05:00

I can't show you ALL the holiday photos, after all I have to leave some surprise for the Christmas photos, but later on in December I'll show more from our Friday Photo shoot. It was a quick one, and took multiple attempts to get started, but I am happy with the results. No individual shots for Greta or Clara, I needed to focus on Hadley so I could get some good ones for announcements (is 4 1/2 months too late to send those out?).

By the way, I know these images are small, I will post larger ones later in December. Like I said, this was just a sneak peek I couldn't resist sharing! Patience, patience, patience.

Your opinion: is the last photo of Hadley too "Olivia Newton John Let's Get Physical"? I was worried....

Enjoy!

1/2 Marathon Pics

2010-11-25T10:29:00.001-05:00

Click on the link below to view your friend's photos online.

www.backprint.com/estf.asp?PID=bp%18sDz&EVENTID=76574&PWD=&BIB=941

Your friend's message:

1/2 marathon pictures! (The ones I took mysteriously disappeared since I didn't have the memory card in my camera.) Chris came in 25th out of 138 men -- we're do proud! He also shaved several minutes off of his time from last year. Way to go!!!!

Season of thanks

2010-11-19T08:20:00.000-05:00

I wasn't feeling thankful enough this morning. My extreme tiredness today led to short fuses, tears(not mine), more frustration, and less hugs and happiness upon parting ways with my children than there should have been.

I just felt like the day ahead was impending doom.

I have a short drive from home to daycare, and an even shorter drive from daycare to my school. Somedays, most days, I am thankful that I spend no more than 7 minutes in the car.

But then, somedays, I'm reminded to relax and be thankful that I have a beautiful drive like this, to help turn around my personal grey skies. Phone video won't do it justice, but you will get the point.

Nothing New

2010-11-16T18:07:00.006-05:00

Terribly sorry I have nothing much to report, no new pictures to post, so I'll just ramble for a minute.

Next week will mark our 8th Thanksgiving down South, and we continue to be amazed at the weather. Looks like we'll forego sweaters for long sleeves and long pants, and perhaps a quick change to short sleeves at some point while playing outside. The weather hovers between 65 and 70 most days, with chilly mornings. Enough weather change to warrant layers, or wardrobe changes during the day. Some other former northerners (can you ever really consider yourself a FORMER northerner? no one else does....) and I were remarking about how there's no need for two separate wardrobes down here, just lots of transitional pieces.

We'll probably cook a turkey breast and some other 'traditional' accompaniments, and the girls and I might indulge in a donut or two while daddy is at work and we watch the parades on tv. They don't get into as much as I do, it's more about nostalgia for me, and let's face it 5 years on this planet does not give you time to develop that.

Greta continues to get good Kindergarten reports, and all she wants to do is read and write and things like that. If there weren't younger siblings in the house, I would probably get her the largest assortment of various pens and paper for Christmas, but as it is a certain 2 and a half year old is a little more, shall we say, flamboyant with writing instruments. AKA -- I don't trust her with anything more than a pencil and supervised crayon sessions. No major damage done yet, but I'm big into damage prevention.

Speaking of Clara, she's developed quite the imagination. Coincidentally I know I just saw an article discussing the intellectual merits supposedly held by young children who...let's just call it what it is, lie. Good to know. Evidently I may have birthed the next Einstein.

Meanwhile, Hadley continues to woo all around her. She's a very relaxed and calm baby, unless aforementioned 2.5 year old is laying on her, and I'm happy to say might just be officially drinking bottles at school now. Phew! It only took 5 weeks! I believe she goes for her 4 month check up very soon!

Well, considering I thought I had nothing to say, I'm pretty impressed with myself.

Until we meet again!

BE SURE TO SEND CHRIS SOME GOOD THOUGHTS AS HE RUNS A HALF MARATHON ON SATURDAY!

Wednesday.

2010-11-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

I hope this helps you get through the week. It makes me smile. Another little chatterbox!

Sing-a-Long

2010-11-05T18:39:00.004-04:00

All I want for Christmas is

my laundry done,

oh my laundry done.

Gee if I could only have

my laundry done,

then I could wish you

Merry Christmas!

Seems so long since I could say

"get a nice clean shirt

out of your shirt drawer."

It's more likely now each day

to hear "it's not too bad,

you can wear it one day more!"

All I want for Christmas is my laundry done...

and we'd all be looking nice for Christmas!

Left

2010-11-05T11:34:00.001-04:00

It was a nice warm bath, I'm in my jammies, and snuggly in my favorite chair. The bed just seems too far away....

Another One Done

2010-11-01T16:55:00.002-04:00

It's so much fun to trick or treat

To dress up late

with candy to eat

To be out playing long after the sun,

I don't know about you,

but I'm glad it's done.

Halloween 2010.

Scary Story

2010-10-30T13:12:00.004-04:00

'Tis the season for frightful stories

full of horror and fear and gore,

While listeners cringe and cower and cry

then sit up and beg to be scared some more.

And so I'll share a tale so disgustingly true,

the facts will curdle your stomach...

turn your toenails blue...

rot your eyeballs from the inside out...

send you running madly about....

And so it goes

it's short and sweet

but a more spine tingling tale

you'll be pressed to meet.

Armed with towels and the bathroom cup

there goes my 2 year old daughter

thinking perhaps she'd play 'cleaning things up'

she instead she...

brace yourselves now...

DRANK HER BABY SISTER'S BATH WATER!!!

OH THE HORROR!!!

Red Ribbon Week

2010-10-28T11:49:00.002-04:00

It's Red Ribbon Week. A time for children (and others) across the nation to celebrate, pledge, affirm, learn, and commit to being drug free. I know at our school kids get actual red ribbons to wear all week, and we usually have some sort of celebration each day to help remember why being drug free is important. For example, where red on Monday, wear caps on Tuesday, favorite team jersey, etc. etc.

Well into Red Ribbon Week by yesterday, Chris was asking Greta about the ribbon she was so proudly wearing pinned to her shirt. "Don't Eat Grubs", she proudly exclaimed.

"What?" Surely he heard her wrong. When trying to ask if she said "Don't Do Drugs" Greta emphatically retorted that no indeed, this week the message was "Don't Eat Grubs".

Celebrating

2010-10-27T18:54:00.002-04:00

It might not be negotiating world peace...yet....

But for today we are celebrating Hadley's first major accomplishment, after birth which I guess is really THE first, but we'll just start counting with those achievements outside of the womb.

After 3 weeks...Hadley actually took not one but TWO 2 ounce bottles today at daycare!!!! What a relief! Maybe tomorrow I'll try 3 ounce bottles and by next week she might actually be on her way to eating like a normal baby!!! (Unless I'm jinxing it all, in which case we'll be no worse off than we have been in which she has been spending the hours between 7am and 3:30pm not eating. Anything.

Send positive vibes our way!

For close family and friends to enjoy

2010-10-26T16:50:00.000-04:00

Call Before You Come Over Because...

2010-10-23T14:07:00.003-04:00

this is why my floors aren't mopped.

this is why there's laundry to put away.

and then there's more laundry.

did i mention there was some laundry?

this is why the sink is full of dishes.

(Not bottles however. I guess that's the one

good thing about little miss refusing to take them,

none to clean. phew.)

this is why there are toys under the couch cushions,

crumbs under the coffee table,

something sticky on the computer mouse,

something fuzzy under the kitchen table....

But this is also why all of that is okay.

Poor planning

2010-10-23T14:00:00.003-04:00

You see I have my paci.

You see I have my blankie.

And you really expect me to be able to wait for

you to make lunch?

Orange ya' glad

2010-10-20T18:37:00.003-04:00

What? What's that you say?

Did someone just call me

little pumpkin?

Because what you really mean is...

CHEESE!

The Good, The Bad...No Ugly

2010-10-14T19:34:00.002-04:00

BAD:

The daycare we have been using for 5 years has closed.

GOOD:

We found a new daycare, 5 minutes from home.

BAD:

Clara cried and was saying how she didn't want to go to her new school, cried for me in the mornings when I dropped her off (just hear "Moooommmmmyyyyyy" echoing...bouncing off schoolroom walls like a yodel in the canyon.)

GOOD:

Day 4, Clara walked in without a tear. HOORAY!

BAD:

Hadley has yet to take a bottle from anyone, which means she has not eaten a THING in 4 days at daycare. Lovely.

GOOD:

Her teachers seem really good and are genuinely trying hard to get her to eat.

also good:

Hadley at least has not been spending the days crying, except for when someone tries to put a bottle in her mouth, and is not up any more than she was at night...so far.

All in all, everything else is going well. Greta and I survived our 3 week break home together, had a ton of fun, and ended up being incredibly busy that we had very little down time. We didn't follow the plan I had initially thought of, but that is okay. We've been doing a lot of math for fun lately, a lot of adding numbers. "Greta, what is 123 plus 0?" "123!" She's learned that anything plus 0, is that number. Which means she already has more math skills then I did in First Grade. Phew.

My Coiffure

2010-10-13T16:29:00.004-04:00

There is a hair upon my head,

it is not brown but grey instead.

A regal white, a stylish silver,

Pure White Silk, if you may.

I'll call it shining starry bright,

instead of wiry grey.

I intend to leave it there,

I see no reason to hide it.

It makes me feel quite debonair

(and you need to be taller than me to find it.)

I'd say I don't know how it got there,

why it felt it's time was due,

except I'm fully well aware

as probably are you.

You may know them as grandkids,

nieces or just friends,

I personally know them better as

"future grey hairs and split ends."

So if you happen to see me, stop and have a chat.

We'll share our stories of life's adventures,

but let's not stop at that.

I'm in a new club, and proud to say,

I'll now be able to compare,

just what products someday I'll use to cover my future grey hairs.

Quick Good Morning

2010-10-10T06:49:00.001-04:00

I know this isn't much of a video, I was trying to capture Hadley's smiles. A task which wouldn't be hard to do, except I'm trying to spare you screams and yells and other extraneous noises which would ruin a cute video. So, you get the idea. At least it's quiet.

Beachy Keen

2010-10-07T14:49:00.003-04:00

We had a beach get away.

The weather was delightful. Cool, occasionally crisp, especially in the mornings.

A slight breeze, perfect though for a walk on the sand.

I did NOT tell her to pose this way, she just sees a camera and strikes it. I DID tell her that her shoes did not match her outfit.

I can't wait until there are 3 little girls who can run in the sand together.

2 months +

2010-10-06T09:35:00.003-04:00

Hadley had her 2 month checkup this week and I am happy to report that she is very healthy. She has already tackled two colds in the past two months, but has come through with flying colors and is happy and booger free right now. When she lays on my lap she wants to pull my arms to sit up, and loves sitting up and looking around. Now if that heavy head would just stay put she'd be even happier. She thinks that it is hysterical when I take her feet and rub them on her mouth (oh to be that nimble) and has even let out a little tiny chuckle, which of course is the best noise. If you catch her in the right mood, usually first thing in the morning, she will even have a mini conversation with you amidst grins and a teeny tiny wee dimple on her left cheek.

She enjoys her play mat, and we put a toy bar on her car seat which she enjoys watching as well. We're working on getting to sleep in the crib, and not just in the bouncy seat which is what she is still sleeping in. When she had her first cold (at 10 days old) I kept her in that to help with the drainage which she would keep choking on, and then it became a habit. She sleeps so well in it. But, it's about time to work on the crib, so we're trying that. I'm hoping that going to daycare and sleeping in a crib will help with that. And while we're on that subject, don't ask how it's going getting her to drink from a bottle. It's not. Sorry daycare, you're going to earn your money on Friday. hohum.

Anyways, if you're waiting for 2 month baby stats, here they are:

11.12 pounds and 22 and a quarter inches. While she was in the 97th percentile for weight at birth and 90th for height at birth, she has slowed down and is more in a normal range now. She made it through her 2 month shots -- didn't even need any baby Tylenol or anything. 2 more days to snuggle at home with mommy now, so that's what I'm going to do.

Transformation

2010-10-05T14:43:00.011-04:00

It was time. The price of shampoo/conditioner, plus conditioner, PLUS spray on conditioner was eating up the college fund, and brushing the tangles was eating at my sanity (and that's precious stuff, there's not much left of whatever there was to begin with).

We traveled an hour and a half -- because this was a special occasion after all -- for a true 'cutting of the hair' celebration. The place was cute, just for kids. She sat in an airplane themed seat, watched Dora at the mini tv in front of her, got a ribbon in her hair and spray on sparkles to boot. (Probably the best part if you ask Greta. Either that or the sucker she got to pick out.) I'm not wasting space showing you pictures of the salon, called Peek a Do, but here are the important photos.

The before. I'm not sure what odd face this is, but you get the point.

Just before. She was a tad nervous....

Too late to turn back now, and yes I was nervous now too. It looked shorter than what I said, and all I kept thinking was 'what if she hates it?' 'what if Chris hates it?' 'what if it looks dumb?'...the what if monster had me by the throat and was choking me.

But then it was done. And I have a few other photos I could stick in here, but

look at this:

and this:

Wow.

What a Wonderful World

2010-09-30T11:33:00.002-04:00

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with the post. Nothing. Except the picture is cute, it makes me happy, and this post is reflecting upon a happy week.

My birthday was Monday and was enjoyable. Mother Nature heard my plea -- or was it my Facebook post she listened to? -- and gave me a wonderful present of cool weather (30 degrees difference in highs from Saturday to Monday) and rain rain rain rain rain. Did I mention it rained? Approximately 10.5(ish) inches of the set stuff licked, pummeled, dripped, and bowled its way across our area of the state here this week. The clouds still have yet to move away, and that's okay too. Chris was home for two days, and that was wonderful too.

While we have had some stressful moments with daycare, we had to make the hard decision to move on to a different daycare. I am not going to go into details, because they are all very subjective, but it is something that I feel we just need to do. We will miss all of the teachers very very much. Clara and Hadley will begin their new daycare next Friday, when I go in for my workday. We are happy with this decision.

All in all, we've had a great week. I have one more week of break/maternity leave. I can not say that I am excited to get back to work, but all good things must come to an end I suppose. And, this quarter is so jam packed with pre-holiday and holiday festivities that it goes so quickly. Time to start looking into our Christmas trip to the mitten.

Good Vs. Evil

2010-09-28T15:33:00.002-04:00

For several weeks now one of the top questions I have been asked about Hadley is "is she a good baby?". I find that a really funny question. I know what people are really meaning when they say that. I know they don't really mean 'is she a good baby, or does she rack up a cell phone bill the likes of which have been nearing the national debt?' or 'is she a good sleeper, or does she wake you up practicing her numchuk skills against the cat at 2 in the morning?'.

Nevertheless, it's just not a way I would phrase a question, and I always have to think for a minute before answering.

"Is she a good baby?"

Why yes, it was just yesterday she was telling me how it was time that she was awake less at night in order to give me the much needed rest I so crave and deserve. Right after she paid the bills and helped take out the recycling. Good doesn't even begin to describe her.

In all seriousness though, she is a "good" baby. Her tummy issues are slowly calming down, she is finding less evening discomfort, and the evenings are a bit more relaxing. She continues to eat like a champion and I look forward to her two month checkup next Monday to see how much she weighs and all of the other good statistics, while I dread the two month vaccinations. She is getting very smiley and happy, and while she loves to be held, she has also started to do these weird tummy crunches to try to sit up. I think she needs to see what her sisters are doing (or she is learning to have all eyes on the ready for when Clara comes near so she can be prepared....)

Good baby, yes, very good baby.

I Have

2010-09-24T14:24:00.002-04:00

Have you ever felt this sleepy?

I mean...that's really really sleepy....

So sleepy that even when you wake up, and that rubber still sticks to your lip as you twist and turn your face into gnarly positions because everyone is laughing at you because you have rubber stuck to your lip and it just makes you really mad but still your mom laughs and then exclaims how she wishes that she had her camera on again....

Have you ever been that tired?
Clara has.

And yes, I'm well aware she is far too old for a pacifier, it's a hurdle we're going under right now.

Come on Now....

2010-09-23T12:30:00.003-04:00

It's the First Day of Fall, many people's favorite season. Up north, I'm a fan. Down south, I'm annoyed. Fall doesn't "begin" down here until -- Christmas. It is going to be at least 94 degrees today, not including the heat index. Come ON Mother Nature. Enough is enough already.

This year alone, we have had approximately (give or take a couple) 87 days ABOVE 90 degrees. Nearly a quarter of the year has been warmer than 90 degrees, and we are only 3/4 through the year. It's driving me batty. Seeing as my ideal temperature is anything 75 degrees and lower, this just doesn't cut it. It's 75 degrees at 6:00am.

The 10 forecast shows some promising temperatures, and I can only hope that 79 degrees with a 50% chance of rain on Monday holds true. What a perfect way to celebrate my birthday with some refreshing temperatures, some much needed rain for our drought which is now 'official' as we are over 8 inches below normal rainfall for the year. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Hmmm

2010-09-22T15:40:00.003-04:00

We are trying to get Hadley interested in a bottle, because 2 weeks from tomorrow is her first day at daycare. She is not interested in a bottle. At all, so far. I hate this part, because not only does it force me to come to grips with being away from my baby(ies) for the day, but it means back to work, which means more work in general since all the stuff I get done during the day has to get done some other time. But this is not a post about that.

So I had this bottle of freshly pumped milk sitting on the table by my bed.

And I saw Clara holding it as I was brushing my teeth.

And I saw the gleam in her eye.

And she saw me looking at her, narrowed her eyes in ways only Clara can, and said "I have some Mommy?"

And I paused, and said no.

And again "I have some Mommy?"

And I paused. Shrugged and said "Sure, go ahead." She won't. She wouldn't.

She did.

And she liked it.

"I have some more Mommy, it's good."

I really didn't know what to think about that. My mind said "ew" my brain said "what's wrong with that" and my frugal side was busily thinking "wow, you could save even more money if you could make enough breast milk to feed Clara too......"

Nah.

Hadley photo session

2010-09-20T16:27:00.001-04:00

Create your own photo album

2010-09-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

This picture was taken approximately one hour after a visit to the dentist upon which Greta was awarded with what is quite possibly the most wonderful and life-altering news of her 5 years:

A. Loose. Tooth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Having a loose tooth is so exciting!"-

Morning Conversation

2010-09-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

This morning we were sitting at the kitchen table and I had just finished opening the windows since it was a lovely 64 degrees outside and the fresh air was delightful. We have a big bush right outside of the window that occasionally is visited by a cardinal couple, and if they aren't there, they usually aren't far away as I believe they have a nest in a neighboring bush. We heard some lovely birds nearby, and Clara commented on hearing the birds, and Greta said she thought she heard a woodpecker. The following conversation then ensued and ended with me choking back tears of laughter.

Clara: I have a woodpecker.

Me: You do? Where do you keep it?

Clara: Ummm, outside.

Me: Is it a boy or a girl?

Clara: It is a boy.

Me: What is your woodpecker's name?

Clara: Owl.

Me: Oh, Owl is a nice name. What does Owl like to eat?

wait for it....

are you ready?

did you read the previous post, because it won't be as good if you didn't read the previous post....

Clara: He eats chicken nuggets mommy!

You Better Watch Out....

2010-09-20T07:49:00.002-04:00

The journey to Santa has begun. It might seem a tad early, but as Chris and I start looking at the calendar and shopping airline rates for our journey northward you can be sure that the man in red is surely going to get a mention. Usually it's in the form of " You know, Santa is watching you..." spoken in that menacing parental threat....

So with the thought of holidays on our brains, I believe we are all starting to make secret wish lists (I wish my kids won't get any toys...there's no room for more -- here me Santa?)

Greta has kicked it off with a request -- though perhaps not from Santa until I told her to ask him -- for a pair of Nike tennis shoes. Our newly brand conscious five year old has determined Nike to be the "it" brand of her young life so far. It began with her soccer cleats and shin guards. Both Nike, not for any reason, those are just the ones that had the best fit (and the best price). I don't even recall ever mentioning the fact that they were Nike, or having any kind of brand-conversation, or ANYthing...but she comes to us and reports that she wants Nike gym shoes because her soccer cleats are soooooo comfortable we were surprised. I mean, where does she get this from? The only tv channel she watches is Nick Jr -- no commercials on it. I'm not sure if they talk about it at school or what.

Then I asked Clara what she wanted for Christmas. Without skipping a beat, she turned to look at me and said:

" Chicken nuggets. Yummy chicken nuggets."

Okay Santa, do your stuff.

Say Hey...Macarena!

2010-09-19T19:42:00.001-04:00

Evidently it is the perfect dance to do while learning the months of the year if you are a Kindergartener. Go figure.

Soccer Day

2010-09-18T15:19:00.002-04:00

2nd week of soccer -- Greta loves it, now.

Alone with the ball, leaving her team in the dust!

The ONLY team member following directions.

Another break away -- Go Greta Go!

Almost a score! See anyone else around her? I don't either!

One of 2 goals she scored today! (Okay, so one she was going the wrong way, but hey they don't keep stats or scores so we can count it in the memory book!)

Mom's Brag Book

2010-09-17T13:27:00.002-04:00

Greta has completed her first quarter of elementary school. It's hard to believe nine weeks have just gone by! I had her report card conference with her teacher this morning, and am pleased to brag about her accomplishments. She is doing even better than I thought she was doing, and has matured greatly in the past few weeks. She is the top reader in the class, and is almost at the reading level Kindergartners are expected to be at at the end of the year, so that is fabulous. Her writing is also excellent, and she is beyond where many students are. Math seems easy for her as well -- hmm, doesn't get that from her maternal side -- and lately she just loves everything about school. She comes home sharing so many things that she is learning -- which she would not do in the beginning of the year. Her favorite thing right now is !. That's right. !. Thanks to her teacher, she LOVES exclamation points and delights in finding them everywhere. She knows that they mean to say something in an exciting way, and does a very good job reading them appropriately. It's amazing the skills they not just learn but need to master in Kindergarten. So much has changed just in the 5 years since I have taught first grade. This year, they are going to have to SPELL certain words, and they even need to know what a comma is and what it is used for -- it is a pause, luckily they don't delve too deeply into that whole comma thing yet, still confuses me. I will probably create further posts espousing the ridiculous things that the Kindergartners of today are required to accomplish. I understand some of it, but my goodness these poor children! Fortunately, even though she is one of the youngest in her class, if not grade (and probably THE youngest) Greta seems to be handling herself well and tackling the obstacles she is given. I am very happy and confident that she is receiving top notch education, and that she really likes learning. Her (our) 3 week break starts Monday, and her teacher is going to send home some stuff and I have some stuff too that I think she will enjoy working on. We don't have too many other plans, though we will probably meet daddy for lunch once a week, run errands, and I'd really like to have a picnic somewhere. And, if it cools down fit the playground in there maybe even with some friends. This is the first time she has been home with me because when she was at daycare before I didn't keep her home, I had to pay for it, she might as well go. Plus she really liked it, honest! <---- !

So that is my bragging for now. We look forward to daddy's weekend off, and that today is a cloudy day so a brief respite from the heat. (Did I mention that we just broke a record and have had 84 days this year above 90 degrees and we're not done yet?)

Happy Friday everyone!

Feng Shuy?

2010-09-16T11:44:00.002-04:00

However you spell it, isn't it supposed to be better to group things in odd numbers, especially 3? Does that go for decorating only? Oh well.

Score 4 for subject matter, 0 for composition....

You might not know it, but this pictures speaks 1,000 words.

Trying very hard to set a good example.

If this pictures is any indication of future sibling photography attempts, then it will be many many years before we have a portrait worthy shot of all 3 sisters together. You wouldn't believe, or maybe you would, how many pictures had to be taken to find one usable shot. And by usable, I mean that someone wasn't curled up, tickling someone else, rolling over or whatever.

Not to be forgotten...

2010-09-07T12:13:00.002-04:00

And when we weren't taking pictures of Clara this weekend, Greta was showing us her new skill: impressions. We're considering dressing her up as a KISS band member for Halloween this year.

I kid I kid.

The Bear

2010-09-07T12:09:00.004-04:00

Once again denied her 'time' behind the camera I devote this moment to our little bear, the one and only, smiley, sassy, silly, chock full of personality one minute and recluse and shy another minute, ready for anything, favorite two year old:

Clara -- the bear -- Noll

Who, incidentally, immensely enjoyed her first snow cone, and miraculously did not spill a single drop -- which, for anyone who has spent 2 minutes around Clara knows this in and of itself constitutes a miracle.

A Penny for Your Thoughts....

2010-09-02T13:17:00.006-04:00

And the first Milestone for the baby book:

Snapped with my phone's camera because I had it right there and I didn't want to disturb the moment by running across the room to get another camera, I know the quality of the actual photo is not the greatest, but I think the subject matter one ups that entirely. They look a little better in black and white than color so that's why I changed them.

Hadley has been smiling in her sleep since day one, including a few giggles every now and then. Even the nurses in the hospital commented on that. The other day I noticed when I tickled her lip she gave a little smirk -- incidentally I think she is going to be very ticklish because she has always squirmed when I try and do anything with her neck or under her chin. I will have to keep this a secret from her sisters.

Couldn't NOT be saidC

2010-08-27T10:40:00.003-04:00

Oh I'm so glad I have an outlet to tell these funny things to before I forget them.

Scene: Hadley, on the changing table, poopy diaper, no big deal, changed and cleaned up.

Me: Reach over to throw the diaper in the diaper pail, miss and lean over to pick it up.

Cue Hadley's double sneeze

Upon standing up -- I make a mental note to self, that next time I put the diaper ON before doing anything else. I've heard that the human sneeze can travel 100 miles an hour, and evidently it can shoot poop out of a baby a good 12 inches at least. Good thing there was a wall there.

I happened to think this was really funny, though I'm pretty sure no one else who lives here would have.

Backlog

2010-08-26T15:50:00.004-04:00

This was supposed to be a big frosting face picture. It looks a little devious to me.

Action shot, jumping off the slide into the giant pit of foam.

Plop

Sometimes I even surprise myself. Granted it was a box mix and canned frosting, but I have to say I still impressed people with my cupcakes. This is not the best example of one of them, but I wanted to grab a picture and didn't have a whole lot of free time to pick he best one. But you get the idea.

I know I have been negligent in sharing with family and friends our life events. Not sure if anyone minds that lapse, but oh well. I realize that I haven't give Greta's big 5th b-day the attention we gave it here, and don't even get me started on Clara's poor appearance behind the camera. I hope to remedy that soon. However, in the mean time, here are some pictures from Greta's birthday party. We had it at the Gymnastics Academy in town. We rented the place for her party, and her and her friends had the run of it to jump on the trampoline, flip, flop and do whatever it is 5 year olds do -- just go crazy. It looked like everyone had a lot of fun, but I'm glad it's over. I think I still enjoy the good old fashioned home parties where you play games and things like that, but this just wasn't the year, and I'm not sure this is the house for that anyways.

I'll try to do better with the blogging, so please bookmark the page and check back frequently. If I find I just want to give it all up, I'll let you know.

Reruns and Bon Bons and Laundry -- oh my!

2010-08-26T15:33:00.004-04:00

I had fully intended on leaving this blog to sit. To ruminate, to marinate...perhaps even to just mold. Sure, I've thought of a few things to write about, my ideas seeming like great excitement and entertainment while I am up during the wee hours of the night. But come the next day, I just have no interest in sitting down to remember what I was going to write, or to even pound out anything on the keyboard. What exactly have I been doing all day? Not much. Whether it's birthing a 9.9 pound baby, being on the other side of the prime age for child-bearing, or this just being the third one in five years, recovery is s-l-o-w. Every time I think I'm ready to just move on with life, I'm reminded that perhaps another day on the couch wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. And so, I comply with the requests of my body. I have been thoroughly enjoying the Today Show, I Love Lucy reruns, and this hefty series of books I have immersed myself within. Yes, I am also nursing, changing diapers, getting laundry done, and tackling the daily battle of the kitchen and am not minding any of it one bit.

So what brought me to the keyboard today? Why have I laid down the lethargy and plopped myself here to tap out some notes? Because if i didn't, you'd miss out on this:

Incidentally, a few days ago -- after begging me to hold Hadley -- Greta was on the couch with her while I ventured into the kitchen to prepare some dinner. All of the sudden I hear screaming and crying and calls of terror and dash into the living room to hear Greta shrieking because Hadley "threw up" all over her (it was spit up, and it was very little). Greta was horrified/disgusted/shocked/sickened all at once. Thankfully she didn't throw Hadley down in a fit of nausea, but honestly she was pretty close. After we removed Greta's shirt and I reassured her that it wasn't throw up and tried to explain spit up, it wasn't long before Greta wanted to hold her again, though she listens to me when I warn her not to rock her too hard because of what might happen.

It must not have scarred her too badly, however, because this is the second day that it only took about 15 minutes at home on the couch, after a little snack, to have both Hadley and Greta sound asleep for a nap. Notice the hand that has fallen away from the mouth and is covering Hadley, it took some prying to remove her so I could put her in her bassinet, but neither sister noticed and remain snoozing at this time.

See? I just couldn't have you miss out on something like this now, could I?

5!

2010-08-11T16:28:00.004-04:00

From This:

To This:

Yesterday we celebrated a very special day,

and it was great, just like the same day

5 years earlier, only with more faces to clean up.

Rose-Colored Half Full Glasses

2010-08-06T10:46:00.002-04:00

I'm not one you could necessarily call an Optimist. Pessimist more often than naught I suppose. It's all part of me trying to one up a bad scenario -- or potential disaster in the making. Of course you really can't one up those, but I like to at least feel mentally or emotionally prepared. I'm not sure if that is really a good quality, I'm sure it sounds slightly morbid, but I don't think of it that way. However...today I have stopped to reflect on just close to perfect the past month has gone. I mean, aside from being huge and uncomfortable for quite a while, that really is just a splash in the bucket. Meaningless. So I figured instead of keeping my reflections to myself, I will share them with you. As I sit and type and feel filled with joy, I'm trying to keep the this is too good, what is going to happen vibes at bay because they want to join in the party....

So, I bring you: The Glass is Half Full

1. I got to be there for Greta's first few weeks of Kindergarten

2. I got to spend the first 2 weeks of the school year with my students

3. While no where close to pain free, my labor was exceptionally fast and actually slightly less miserable than the others as it didn't include all of the hours of contraction activity and the unpleasant bodily functions that go with that.

4. This morning I took Clara to school, Greta has the day off so we are spending it together. A little nervous about how Clara would handle this transition (because someone else has been taking her all week) once her school was in view she said "Bye Baby Hadley, I'll see you later, Love You!" in the car and then walked into school herself (without having to be carried).

5. Greta and I have sat at home, watched tv, read books, ate apples with carmel dip and played 3 games of CandyLane -- of which my nearly 5 year old was rooting for me to win AND while I was putting laundry in the dryer she moved the cards so that I would get GOOD CARDS. And yes, I won 2 out of 3 games.

6. A friend is bringing pizza and salad for us for dinner tonight

7. I think Greta and I will maybe paint our fingernails later, or at least hers

8. Hadley slept from 9 until 1:15 last night and then from 2 until 4:30.

9. Because I had Hadley last weekend, on the weekend Chris was scheduled to work, that means I get him home with us this weekend instead of gone for 12 hours each day at the golf course. What a great way to mark our first week as our new improved -- and complete -- family.

10. There is no ten right now, because I'm leaving it open for the great things yet to come.

Pictures

2010-08-03T19:04:00.002-04:00

This is actually what I meant to post earlier. Just some pics from the last few days.

Day Three

2010-08-03T16:31:00.003-04:00

We've been home since noon on Sunday, nearly 36 hours since Hadley roared her way into the world at full blast. We are all doing well. Thought I'd include some pictures of the past few days, she's been sleeping a ton today, so there aren't many with her eyes open, or without other hands plastered all over her.

Friday

2010-07-30T15:53:00.002-04:00

I sure wish I had something to report. But I don't.

We finished up the second week of school, Greta brought home a whole folder of great work, most of it she's already well-accomplished at thanks to a great pre-K teacher so we're doing more at home to keep up her skills. It's fun brining her to school each day, our classes still have recess at the same time -- Greta is getting spoiled by 5th grade girls fawning all over her, I don't know how she always gets people to do that. And then to see her at my classroom at the end of the day is just too cute. However, I'm certainly not getting my 'last minute' tasks done before or after school, although she has accompanied me on several errands to the copier and is a big help carrying and collecting the papers.

I am officially done with work until the second week of October, or something like that, after our Fall 3 week break. So, maternity leave has begun, and I am looking forward to it, baby or no baby.

Update

2010-07-28T18:18:00.002-04:00

So, I had a dr's appt today. A half centimeter of production -- bumping me up to a whopping 2cm -- in two weeks. Lazy cervix! So, more waiting. And...if this cruel torture continues...then we appear at Labor and Delivery next Wed at 5:30am.

If you need me, I'll be the lady with the watermelon under her shirt practicing some squats and encouraging the next generation to come forth.

Test 2

2010-07-27T14:35:00.000-04:00

Ticker

2010-07-27T14:24:00.002-04:00

See that poor little turtle up at the top? He's sick of being there.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow at 4. I'm sure I'll be there.

---

2010-07-26T18:15:00.001-04:00

Nope.

Here's a Good One

2010-07-25T18:31:00.007-04:00

I am leaving this post up until I have something better to say. Until then, click here.

Look at the web address and be amused.

Nothing to See Here

2010-07-24T17:57:00.002-04:00

Just in case you're wondering....

Nothing new. Except that not too long ago the Real Feel temperature was 113 degrees.

school

2010-07-23T07:29:00.002-04:00

Awesome picture from Greta's second day at school -- when the whole class was finally there together. I have had so much fun bringing Greta to school with me and walking her to class. After school she has thoroughly enjoyed playing on the Smart Board in my room -- and cleaning the white boards. WOW! CLeanest they've been in years. :)

Help!

2010-07-22T16:02:00.001-04:00

Someone stole my ankles!

Ending and Beginning

2010-07-22T05:45:00.003-04:00

We start this post with a picture from the last day of Pre-K. This dress was carefully selected by Greta a few days in advance, and we even ignored the rules and wore sandals instead of tennis shoes. Thanks for a great year of fun and learning Ms. Marianne!

Posing in front of the Crepe Myrtle, the dress was laid out 2 days ahead of time, the only last minute change was to the hair. And, for the record, when she heard me say we were going to take pictures outside in the morning before school, she was practicing her poses inside asking me which looked the best for the pictures. Sigh.

Look out Kindergarten. Here she comes.

Breaking News

2010-07-21T15:08:00.000-04:00

No, not water-breaking news. Unfortunately.

Greta is with me, vaguely telling me bits and pieces of her day, but actually having more fun writing on my white board with every color marker available to man. And after a bit of review on how she liked what I packed for snack, she immediately followed that by "I hope we don't do math tomorrow."

Me: Oh, you did math today? Great! Didn't you like the math.
Her: No! It was Bee math ( the theme today was bees ) and all we did was counting bees. It was so borin'. I didn't like it.
Me: laughing I'm sure it will get more fun as the year goes on.
Her: It was just too easy for me right now. I want to like it, I just didn't like it.

Pictures to follow this evening!

Womb Watch

2010-07-21T06:00:00.003-04:00

Well, I've made it through my two goals for this school year -- the first few days of my classroom, and it looks like I'll make it through the first day of Kindergarten. YAY! I'm excited, but enough already. Hey baby, didn't anyone tell you that babies come 10 days early in this house? Your mommy and daddy are never late -- for anything. Not that you're late or anything yet, but our motto is, if you're not early - you're late. We're all so excited to meet you, and seeing as the temperature is still supposed to be miserably tropical for the next forever, mommy would really like you to come out. For the first time last night, she couldn't find her ankles.

Any how, let's make an activity out of all of this! Readers, please leave a comment of the day and time you think our dear little one will make her way into this world. Let's see who gets the closest! Prize? No. Unless you want an autograph picture or something. I have NO idea, so I won't even venture to guess. What does everyone else think?

Sooooo,

2010-07-20T18:29:00.002-04:00

I get to the dr today, and the nurse said "oh, I see a note here that says we've called you a couple of times. First to tell you that you didn't have to come in we will call you a prescription, and then to see if you wanted to come in earlier."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Seriously, Universe...

2010-07-19T16:48:00.004-04:00

I'm not in the frame of mind to be amused. You already have me waiting not-so-patiently to release this being from my womb, but you have to give me Pink Eye on top of that? Not funny. At all. You better hope that -- since I have to go to the dr tomorrow, during my time at work (thank you to a nice boss who isn't making me take a half day off) just for them to look at my eye and tell me, yes I have pink eye WHICH I HAVE ALREADY SELF DIAGNOSED -- you really better hope that I am also told it could be 'any minute now' that I go into labor. Otherwise, don't talk to me anymore.

Nothing

2010-07-17T16:51:00.003-04:00

Nothing going on, just wanted to let you know. :)

We are currently enjoying an awesome rain shower, mini-thunderstorm. It has (temporarily) cooled us off o about 77 degrees outside. And while I know it will all just shoot up as soon as the rain departs, it is still refreshing. Granted, I'm not outside, but just knowing it's cooler is refreshing.

Womb...With a View

2010-07-15T10:11:00.003-04:00

A week from now, Greta will be in the middle of her second day of Kindergarten. If she doesn't have another little sister by then, she will be very very close to having one. She is excited for both events immensely, though I think is more excited for the baby to come. I have a feeling I'm going to have to wrestle the baby away from Greta, because all she talks about is how she wants to hold it, rock it to sleep, push it in the stroller, etc. Wish she would play with dolls like that.... I suppose that, even though she was pretty young when Clara was born, that is not as foreign to her as Kindergarten and this whole big school. She is wondering how she will know where the bathroom is, or how she will know where things are, and will I be able to sit next to her at the lunch table. We have lots of discussions about schoool that I think she just still can't grasp yet. Tonight is Meet the Teacher night, and while I won't be able to go with her because I have to meet all of my students and their families, I'm excited for Greta to get a chance to see her classroom one more time before next Wednesday.

In an effort to help the budget by saving money, the school system has once again this year decided to close on Fridays during the summer. No personnel may work at all, because they do not want to have any electricity/air conditioning, etc. running. There are only 2 year round schools in the county so it doesn't affect many people, but the first four weeks of our school year we only have 4 day weeks. (They take it out of our breaks later on to make up for it.) So, tomorrow is officially my last day of break I will have for the next 10 or 11 years where I will not have any children at home with me on one of my breaks. Needless to say, I am going to enjoy every minute of tomorrow. Next Friday Greta will be home with me, and who knows who else!

To the point of the title of this post. If Hadley were to look around in her great, giant soft bubble she's been floating in all of this time, it might be a little brighter in there..... I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and it looks like things have started. I am about dialated about 1 1/2 and 50% effaced, and if that means nothing to you it simply means to me that it won't be too long based on the history with the other two deliveries. I believe at this same time period I was dialated the same and both girls came within the next 5 days. Soooo...Once again, here's hoping that I'm not spending Greta's first day of Kindergarten giving birth and that it either is before, or after. Chris has to work this weekend though, so I really would prefer it not to be then because I don't feel like floundering around in agony and having to referee Greta and Clara -- mostly Clara -- as she follows Greta around and tries to take anything and everything she has. Or keep Greta from bouncing Clara off of the floor in some way shape or form. But, oh well. Try as I might, this is one thing I have no control over and can not plan for, as much as my anal side tries to plan for it.

I'll try to keep you posted on how I'm feeling, and will try to spare the graphic details for the sensitive members of the audience. Stay Tuned!

Hello Friday

2010-07-09T10:06:00.006-04:00

Another week zooms by. Funny, I don't remember them going this fast before. Funnier still, instead of putting away the groceries right now, I decided to do a quick blog entry. Hang in there yogurt -- I'll be right there!

Any one else feeling like the header picture to this blog is throw right IN THEIR FACE? Every time I come to the blog page I have to laugh because that picture is so huge it just feels like it's SCREAMING at me. In a nice way of course, but it feels loud. I suppose I could play around with it, but I think there are some other dairy products that need my attention sooner than later, and after that I have plans. Big plans. Involving sitting. In a chair. With lots of pillows.

Mother Nature -- who has cruelly sat this bubble of heat right over us for longer than I can remember -- decided to grant us a quick reprieve by giving us some rain last night. Of course, it just made it feel hotter because the current humidity is right around one million %, but I'll take rain any day. I'm greedy, more please Mother. As Clara would say "right NOW". Lovely child that she is. There is even a chance tomorrow that we might not reach 90 degrees -- woo hoo! Of course, in Mother Nature's constant good humor, she wasn't just going to let it rain. She had to pull out the atmospheric theatrics and (what, chicken? Is that you? You'd like to be put away? One minute please, mommy's blogging) and add some thunder and disco lights to the whole show. Which means one dog clip clopping his way from room to room from tub to tub to drowned out the lightning and thunder, and suddenly a bed which is ridiculously over crowded with human elements. Greta was the only one who actually came in, Clara slept through the whole thing, which is quite amazing seeing that in the past month she is up nightly no LESS than twice. Not that it helped me sleep, but I won't go into that.

Alright, I've kept the groceries waiting long enough. And those pillows are really looking like they need my extra 30 (+?) pounds to flatten them out some more. Happy Weekend. The above picture is taken from a fire truck from the late 1930's they had on display at the fireworks this past weekend.

Busy Day

2010-07-07T09:25:00.005-04:00

The girls didn't have school on Monday so we ventured out for an early morning playground visit, followed by some splashing in the wading pool in the yard. We are still letting Greta pick and choose whether she "needs" to take a nap each day or not, and even though Clara and I managed to get some midday shut-eye, Greta didn't seem to find the need at the appropriate time.

Until about 4:15.

Slacker

2010-07-07T09:13:00.005-04:00

I know, I know....

I don't even know if people still read this, what with my sporadic postings now. How is it that while I am working full time I seem to make more time to blog than when the kids are at daycare and I have all day? That's right, because when I'm not working I am sitting around painting my nails, eating bon bons and napping while watching countless hours of the Today show which seem to take up the entire morning now. Who wants to blog when they have that going on? ha ha.

I hope at least someone sees the humor in that.

It's a wonderful thing this year round school calendar, because it means every nine weeks my house looks AWESOME. Laundry is done in a timely fashion -- including sheets and towels -- floors are clean (er), meals are elegantly prepared, grocery shopping is done solo, dusting, vacuuming, and the kitchen VOILA. It's nearly effortless. I actually do not mind it. In fact -- I even find matching socks not quite as horrible. Don't even ask me about how clean the closets are -- seriously, sometimes I amaze myself. So you can see why blogging has to take a back seat. I will add, however, that I did paint my nails yesterday, and still managed to do two loads of baby clothes -- it's nearly that time you know.

So the above pictures are some shots from this weekend. Poor daddy was stuck at work for 10 hours each day, this heat is just oppressive, but we managed to steal him away for some fun and fireworks anyways.

I head back for some workdays next week, but the most amazing thing...two weeks from today, someone I know will have her first day of Kindergarten. And assuming I'm not in the delivery room, which I'm assuming will almost be a guarantee, since when else would be a great time to have a baby but for your oldest child's first day of Kindergarten, I just know I will have blog posts to share with you. Hope to get a few more in before that though.

My Goodness!

2010-06-28T11:25:00.003-04:00

A whole week with out posting anything and I STILL have nothing to say! I finished nearly a week's worth of workshops, so my summer vacation has officially begun last Friday, and will last about another 3-4 weeks. Back to work (hopefully) to start the school year on July 13th or 14th.

Less than 5 weeks to go on the maternity countdown, thank goodness. But also much less than 5 weeks to go until I have a Kindergartner! Woo hoo!!! (I'm not sure who is more excited.) It's time to notify daycare of her last day, pick up school supplies, etc.

This week I am going to be busy washing baby clothes, getting out the bassinet, making one last run to Target to get a few more things with my 10% off coupon, and so on.

By the way -- I needed to order something from Lands End, and because we had some Discover Reward points I used those on it, but I really wanted a free shipping coupon because shipping was 8.99. Someone had told me about this website called RetailMeNot to look for coupon codes and such for online purchases and -- voila! I found one. I like it because it gives you the expiration date of the codes, as well as the "success rate" others have had using it. I highly recommend it! I ended up paying a whopping .$64 total for my purchases instead of $50.64!

Stay tuned, I'm hoping later this week to get some nursery pics up. I'm more of a half an hour up, then one hour down type of person these days....

Complete Radomness

2010-06-21T18:42:00.004-04:00

It's the first day of Summer. Happy Summer Everyone! From here on out we lose about one minute of daylight per day. Thank goodness. I won't get on my soapbox about the ridiculousness of Daylight Saving Time is (no s on the end of Saving by the way, just learned that this year), sorry Benjamin Franklin.

I will say that the whole blogging world seems like it is in a slump. Could it be the heat acting as thermal blanket across much of us right now? Is it the change of seasons? Me? I have my own list of excuses, also which I will not tire you with . So, in this post, I am choosing to give you a bunch of random photos which could probably each have their own post but I am declining to do so. I have a good book I'm reading, a cup of ice waiting to cool me from the inside out, and somewhere under my ear muffs trying to block out the sounds of sibilngs screaming I know I really should go intervene before some two year walks away with about 12 inches of dark 4 1/2 year old hair -- a new favorite right up there with dumping bowls of cereal or cups of milk on a table. But I digress...so enjoy:

Clara actually requested to be photographed. Not one of the better ones, but it's something.

I absolutely kid you not when I say that Greta would honestly rather be washing the windows in the house -- does a great job by the way, she's for hire -- than play. I don't know why, I don't ask, I just hand it over.
Father's Day brunch. It was hot, and unfortunately we were unable to spend a lot of time with daddy because he had to work all day, but the time we did have was lovely.
You can't really see it in this picture, but Greta did her hair herself complete with headband and barrettes. She had a necklace, clip on earrings, and lipstick to boot. It may have been Father's Day, but it was a girly celebration.

What Was I Thinking?

2010-06-17T18:50:00.003-04:00

1 finger prick, 6 shots, 2 kids

I'll spare you any descriptions, and I seriously thought about photographing this event, but even if I had wanted to, I didn't. You can thank me later.

(BTW: Everyone is healthy, though beginning to complain of some sore thigh muscles!_

Facing the Futurelf

2010-06-16T16:35:00.002-04:00

Today Greta received an important document in the mail. One I should probably keep in the keepsake box. (Note to self to get moving on that one.) It officially announced her first day of school start date -- they do staggered entry, with a third of the kids coming each day and everyone the fourth day -- as well as her supply list. Oh I long to see aisles of glue and boxes of scissors, brand new crayons all sharp and majestic and of course a backpack and lunchbox too. It won't be long before we have to make our shopping trip, since Greta's first day of Kindergarten will be Wednesday, July 21st! I can't wait. So above you see, Greta -- future Kindergartner, preparing to embark on what we can all hope will be a long, successful, fulfilling and happy school career.

2nd half of the Year Blahs

2010-06-14T09:21:00.004-04:00

Well, it's official. Here we are 14 days into June and North Carolina has yet to disappoint on the annual doldrums of hardly being able to step foot outside. The past few days have been in the upper 90's and today is not going to be any different with a predicted high of 97 -- Real Feel temperature in the 100s. Yesterday we went to the pool for an hour, and the car thermometer read 100, and that is usually pretty accurate. When it's already 77 at 6am in the morning, what good could possibly come of the day? It's a rhetorical question. No good could come of the day. We try to play outside, we really do. But I don't make it 5 minutes, and even for the girls it's like moving in slow motion. And to say that this is just summer and to enjoy it while it lasts just isn't possible down here in the Sandhills, because it will be hot for the 3 1/2 - 4 months. So please excuse the crabbiness, it's just that I am melting....

The Latest and Greatest

2010-06-10T19:17:00.003-04:00

If you've been around anyone between the ages of 4 and 12 lately, then you will know all about this picture. If you haven't, then you will wonder why there is an arm here.It's not the arm.

It's not the (surprisingly unwrinkled and currently dry) painted thumb.

Or the table.

It's the bands.

Silly Bandz that is. The next greatest fad. The next generation to the rubber bracelets known and loved from my own youth. How Greta -- seemingly innocently sheltered in daycare, it MUST be those corruptive big brothers and sisters, how dare they! -- even knew what these were, amazes me. She received a couple in a goody bag from school during her graduation, and immediately announced "Look mommy, Silly Bandz -- cool!" Fortunately, I'm not so out of the loop due to my constant interaction with the youth of today who wear probably 50 of these on each arm daily, I knew what she was talking about.

And so today, in honor of, well, Thursday I suppose, we let her pick out her own pack. This particular kind glows in the dark, an extra thrill. They have kept her quiet and occupied for over 20 minutes now, which beats the record of nearly any toy she owns. I suppose there might be more in her future. They're collectable you know. You can trade 'em. They're cool.

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor...

2010-06-10T19:11:00.003-04:00

...your poopy.

Thanks to a wonderful teaching team mate who helped my students throw me a baby shower yesterday I am proud to announce we surely have several months worth of diapers and probably nearly a year's worth of wipes. (Or just a little over a month's worth if this next baby is anything like Clara.) There are several layers and rows of diapers here that I'm not sure you can even see, and the table is over 3 feet long. Next on board is to find a place to actually store all of these, but I'm not worried. Free diapers are free diapers. I'll eat on the boxes if I have to!

Dance Recital:

2010-06-07T18:53:00.005-04:00

10 months

Some disinterest

20 minutes one way, no watching during class, 45 minutes walking around, 20 minutes home

Lots of convincing that she needs to stay in dance

One 2 1/2 minute dance out of a two hour recital:

Still priceless

And, I don't care if I birthed the girl and might be a tad bias, I have heard from others that can attest to this statement

she honestly was the best one in her class.

Job Wanted

2010-06-07T18:44:00.004-04:00

So, in this economy it's time for the girls to start earning their keep. Being cute just isn't cutting it anymore. While I start exploring various options, I thought I'd open up this post to any takers of an idea I have for Clara.

Professional Spiller

If any of you have any thing that needs spilling, dumping, emptying, dropped, splashed, spattered, sprayed or upset, we have just the person to help you with that. Often described as the person who could come out of a bath dirty, I know there has to be a way to market this talent. Perhaps I need to call Mike Rowe of 'Dirty Jobs' tv fame and see if she could be an assistant.

Overturn, gush, cascade, flood, heave, tumble, drop or strewn about -- you needn't look further for someone to accomplish this. If it can be held and it's content put somewhere they probably shouldn't in a less-than tidy manner, I absolutely guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Our girl is the best. And she comes with lots of experience. Why, today alone we've battled yogurt, cereal, milk, water with ice, diced tomatoes and I'm sure other things I've just chosen not to remember. And folks, it's only Monday.

Feel free to leave a comment if you think you might have an interest in borrowing her for the time being. I'm sure we can come to a formidable rental agreement. Naturally, the endearing smile will just be a free bonus, but I guarantee it will be there.

Winding Down

2010-06-04T17:53:00.003-04:00

What a crazy few weeks it's been. I think I've only shared Greta's Pre-K graduation, and have neglected to mention the wonderful family visits we've had as well. We are excited (well, Chris and I are) for Greta's dance recital tomorrow, and even though she is dreading it and does not want to go at all -- not even with the bribery of getting to wear makeup, which she does NOT want to do either -- we look forward to it. It means dance is over! She really has not enjoyed it like we hoped she would. I suppose the lack of competition just doesn't do it for her. She's not a performer. Give her a time to beat or a person to be better than, and she'll go for it. But for now, I'm just excited that our busy schedules are winding down. The only big thing on the calendar for us is June 17th, when I decided it sounded like a great idea to take Greta and Clara to the doctor at the same time for their checkup and shots. I have no idea what I was thinking, it was probably the frugal side of me thinking about the $25 co-pay I would save by not having to go back separately, now I'm thinking differently. My school year is almost done, with a great deal of help from my mom the nursery is nearly complete -- pictures soon -- we just need a mattress to finish it off and to do some laundry.

Of course since it is now June, the weather has gone from warm to HOOOOOOOOOOOOT. Ridiculously hot. Today, at 11:30, the temperature was 88 degrees and the real feel was 96! AHHH! We enjoyed a lot of rain recently, 3 inches this week alone. I love rain and thought it was great, but Chris has to work this weekend, and it is supposed to be in the 90's and that rain was not close enough to the weekend to keep him here at home, so he will have a hot busy weekend. Saturday is the big recital, but Sunday we are planning to enjoy the pool after he gets home from work. I am thinking that after some light housekeeping, we will enjoy the day indoors, and maybe even watch a movie -- a very special treat!

Until next time, I am going to munch on some ice chips and put my feet up. Maybe Clara and I will read a book while the Wonderpets sing in the background. Chris and Greta are at her dress rehearsal, and I think there is a smattering of chocolate ice cream left in the freezer. Sounds like a complete evening to me.

Buns Busting in Air

2010-06-02T19:09:00.002-04:00

Obvious future speech therapy aside, belated tribute for Memorial Day.

There's Blame to Place Somewhere

2010-05-31T11:44:00.003-04:00

I hate going a long time between blog posts, because I get out of a good rhythm and get into a funk. Like I have nothing to write about. Of course, did I really have anything to begin with? That's debatable. There's so little to talk about on the phone with people now days because I tell it here. Why do we pay for a home phone then? Hmmm, makes me wonder. I know, it's because I am obsessed with the idea that in order to have safe, immediate access to emergency personnel during an emergency, it's best to call from a home phone line so your location can be quickly and accurately identified. And that is honestly the reason I pay whatever it is per month. Never a girl scout...still always prepared.

But down to the nitty gritty, I have nothing planned to write about, and my excuse is that I can't see my feet.

What do my feet have to do with a blog? Probably nothing. But still, I can't see them. Well, I can if I lean waaaaaaaay over, but then that could put me off balance and I could fall forward, and we wouldn't want that either. And while feet still have nothing to do with typing ability per se... I am trying not to otherwise complain. So feet it is.

Her Turn

2010-05-25T18:20:00.003-04:00

It has oft been said that Clara has not had her fair share in front of the camera. And, for some reason, all of the sudden she is finding her time in front of the lens a bit more endearing than before. Every now and then she will even butt into a picture and say "cheeeese".

Commencement

2010-05-23T16:24:00.006-04:00

Commencement, such a funny word for a ceremony. The word of course actually signals a beginning, but I found that rarely to the participants in a commencement ceremony think of what they are going through as a beginning. Even as a parent, I do not think of this time of developmental advancement as a commencement to anything. In fact, I am totally celebrating the finale of one child in daycare. And, were in not for the fact that soon another will quickly replace her daycare payments, I would've had even more to celebrate. Finale or commencement however, we had a great celebration on Friday, and the countdown is on for the first day of Kindergarten, which will be here in about 8 weeks!

Obsessions

2010-05-19T14:29:00.004-04:00

I'm finding that I am becoming totally transfixed in milestones and achievements in Greta's life. I can only hope that I am equally excited even when the other 2 have these same events, just a little less obsessed. A year and a half ago when Greta attended her first "play date", I know for a fact I was way more excited than her. I'm sure the mom thought I was completely bonkers to bring a camera and photograph the kids playing. The first birthday party was equally as exciting for me, and Greta didn't even fully understand what a birthday party even was yet. So far, it seems like Greta's social calendar has been higher on the excitement level for me than accomplishments which should be more readily applauded -- like, if I may brag for a moment more, her reading ability and what seems to be some shining math skills clearly not passed down by moi. It's not that those are not as important, they are. I make a huge deal out of them at home, but they have been so easy for Greta that it's just more of a natural transition.

Oh don't be mistaken however. It's not like she is socially inept. Au Contrair. (Where was all of this French when I was trying to plod through with some modicum of success in High School?) It takes us a good 6 minutes to walk off the playground when I pick her up each day because everyone from 3 to 12 has to come and say goodbye and hug Greta. Some twice. It's like the pied piper leaving town.

We've tackled the play date, birthday party, I've watched her do circle time in school, she reads, she does math, she explains metamorphosis which I am struggling to even spell and a chrysalis and a couple of other words that seem longer than she is tall. It should go without saying that I have been anxiously trying to be subdued about this upcoming event we have going on:

Pre-K Graduation!

I'm trying not to think about it every waking second...but I am! I can't wait. I so want to be that parent that brings their 4 year old a big bouquet of flowers, gives them gifts, feeds them grapes while fanning them with palm fronds and exuding pronouncements of excellence. Seriously. But, I'm trying not to. Oh how cute would she look with a little flower corsage...but no, I can't go there. She's 4, it's preschool. An accomplishment? Yes. Did she have to perform feats of bravery, miracles, or even take a test? No. She's 4, it's time for Kindergarten, wham get outta' here. So I'm holding off on the flower orders. I'm not even baking a cake, though somewhere along the way I do believe I promised cupcakes would be served....

And my point of all of this is, thank goodness I have more than one child. And, I think it's probably a good thing that I have at least 25 pounds of extra weight while being kicked and prodded throughout my midsection, because if I had really had all of my energy...and had all of my strength...and all of my time to think about this? The florist just might have been on speed dial.

It All Happens for a Reason

2010-05-18T11:39:00.004-04:00

I have come to the realization that it's a good thing I have more than one child. Not just for the obvious reason, for goodness sakes I wouldn't trade them for the world...most days. For a long time I really thought that one was going to be enough. After giving birth I was determined one was going to be enough. (OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!.) And for goodness sakes again, once that child turned 13 months old I KNEW for SURE that one was MORE than enough. Or so I thought.

So two worked out fine. Things really weren't crazy, though I do remember venturing out of the house to go to my students' fifth grade promotion ceremony while on maternity leave. Greta was home a little under the weather, Clara was about 6 weeks old, and I wanted us all to look extra nice so we donned summery dresses and fluffed our hair, etc. etc. It amazed me how long it took to just finagle us out of the house and wrangle our way into a stuffy gymnasium. Yet it still worked. I have two hands. Two sides of my body for children to lean against, and so on. There are 2 parents...see? 2.

I still haven't figured out how 3 will work, however. It is a totally foreign concept to me. I'm not sure why it seems so strange, I've taught and taken care of far more children, it should be a non-issue. But I still haven't figured out how 3 kids in a family works. The friends I had growing up mostly had 2 kids in the family. Others that had more, the older kids were grown and never around. 2 is such a nice even number. 2 hands, 2 arms, 2 parents. 2 or 4 people fit on a roller coaster, a ski lift, a golf cart. What happens to the fifth? Who is the fifth wheel? I can't wait to figure out how it is all going to work out, and of course I mean to say that me being 'one of those' type of people, I will expect it to work out immediately. Like, first day home. HA! I know, totally not realistic, and life is not meant to be that way. Tell that to my brain that knows rational thinking but chooses not to exercise it all of the time.

This is completely off from where I wanted to take this post, however. I had several points to make, one of which being it's surprisingly easier to be pregnant with a third child, than a first or second. For heaven's sakes I don't have any time to even think about what that little pain might mean, to mope about my legs being exhausted, to wine about not being able to lift someone or something. (Ahh, got all that out. Thanks for listening.) It's not an option. I don't have time to think about how it's hard enough for me to move around the kitchen let alone trying to maneuver an extra 41inches of belly while dragging at least one child by one of my legs, negotiating and elderly dog unwilling to move from my walking path to the fridge while trying to pick out the 'good' grapes from the 'yucky' grapes and wondering 'when did I even buy these grapes anyways'?

There's so many places to go with this topic. Like how many months I have been either pregnant or nursing vs. how many months I've even known my husband. Like how having children is really a good idea because I could see myself becoming lost in obsessions if I only had one child. Stay tuned, for more.

As well as more on the 41 inches....

A Story Worth Repeating, to me

2010-05-16T12:15:00.003-04:00

I love the story of our wedding. It's mildly quirky, a tad funny, a bit original, and really just fits us perfectly.

So I last left you, we were postponing the ceremony due to continuous rain, hoping the next day might just throw us a window of clear skies. I recovered from my unfortunate crab incident which, after two years in a row has lead me to the decision that for some reason now, I just don't need to eat crab anymore. Luckily the minister was available -- surprisingly enough not too many people go for the whole sunrise wedding thing. We needed to have two witnesses, and she assured us she had a friend to bring along for such occasions, and that we could always find someone on an early morning run or walk who would not mind stopping to help us....Do you see where this is headed?

Up at 5:00 a.m. to gussy ourselves up and take the dogs outside -- we decided they were just going to stay in the room for this one. No need to battle tangled leashes around our legs while trying to be joined in matrimony after all. We met the minister outside at 6:00 a.m. and the sun was scheduled to rise at 6:10 that morning. Amazingly enough...and surely a positive sign, the rain had stopped. The sky was cloudless, and the horizon stretched on for miles. But the minister was alone. What???? 10 minutes until we are supposed to be basking in the morning glow of the rising sun and we have NO ONE to witness this for us? The office to this small hotel was not open, no one else was around. No one was running or walking the beach. NOOOOOOOOOOO! I'm not one to panic about such things, but we couldn't postpone this one again, and we were up and it was all about the sunrise people! I sent Chris off one way to search for anyone who might be up and about, and I checked the beach. He told me he'd meet us there. After what had to have been nearly 10 minutes, and the distant glow of orange about to pop over the distance, here comes Chris walking towards us on the beach. As I remember it now, I'm thinking slow motion, dramatic music, every arm moment and each step an echo as I see who he found to witness our beginning of forever....

2 seen-better-days fisherman from another hotel that Chris nearly begged to come help us out before they headed out for the day. The long scraggly hair that fell about their shoulders needn't be described further, and one shyfully announced that he hadn't put his teeth in yet. But they were here, and lucky for us because evidently their two friends with them not only refused to be a part of such a thing but tried to talk Chris out of getting married in the first place. I gingerly handed one the camera with the directions just to take pictures of anything so we could have some nice memories.

And what do you know. Though we don't have a lot of photographs, and I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of our helpers, I thought it would've been rude to ask, they didn't even want the money we offered them and the few pictures we do have couldn't be better if taken by a professional. It was a short but perfect ceremony, where the sun broke through the water just as we were speaking our vows to each other, and we just had us to focus on. The world at that moment belonged to us. It was about 6:20 when we walked back to the room, changed clothes to take the dogs for a walk on the beach, and then headed to the pool where we had a total of 4 1/2 hours of sunshine before the rain started again. While the rest of the day carried on much like any other, we managed to see the fisherman again and bought them some beer for their help.

And that's how it all began.

Happy Day

2010-05-15T13:23:00.006-04:00

On May 16, 2003

in a private sunrise ceremony

Chris and Adrienne

both joined hands and

said

I Do

upon the sands.

Vows were expressed

so happily,

on Carolina Beach

beside the sea.

That was our wedding announcement, and I love it to this day. It's amazing how I have so few pictures of that moment, and other people have hundreds and hundreds kept in albums that cost more than some of my pieces of furniture. Yet I would put my moment up against anyones. And each moment in between. Happy 7 year anniversary and to many many more.

What a Difference a Day Makes

2010-05-15T06:07:00.003-04:00

7 years ago, I was supposed to be married today. Supposed to, I said. At nearly this very moment, as a matter of fact. However that did not happen. 7 years ago today.

The plans were all made. We came in the night before to a typical, quiet North Carolina beach town dotted with mom and pop hotels and small gift shops. Peppered with local seafood restaurants and unique beach houses. Using the marvels of modern technology, I had planned it all via the computer, right down to the minister and selecting just the right wording for our vows. We had our weekend all planned out, and all reservations made, including dinner. We had been living in North Carolina for about two months, and were still enjoying the fact that it was already warm and only mid-May, and the fact that it had been constantly raining for weeks really hadn't bothered us too much. It wasn't just rain, however, it was RAIN! Growing up in Michigan, my background experiences with a downpour or "heavy rain" turned out to be a joke compared with what the south has to offer. Real RAIN! And so, after arriving and settling in our quaint hotel and triple checking the forecast for what was meant to be our wedding day -- more RAIN! -- we were able to contact the minister and change plans. We could wait one more day before we decided to work on changing venues. And by venues, I mean using a gazebo in a beachfront park somewhere.

And low and behold, after a night of discovering that crab is no longer something that agrees with me, it turns out that waiting that extra day was a perfect decision anyways.

So, according to my computer clock, I could've been married 7 and 7 minutes ago, on the beach with just a minister, her friend, and some random witness she assured me we would have no problem finding taking an early morning stroll or job. There's some foreshadowing there my friends, oh yes there surely is. More to come.

Similes, Metaphors and Other Beautiful Words

2010-05-12T07:38:00.008-04:00

There was a time when I never thought about golf. A long time, like...most of my life. And if for some reason I did think about it, it was just "ooohh, golf is on t.v. again?" Now golf is a huge part of my life. Sort of. There was a time when I played golf. Not a ton, but enough where I went from never to frequent. As much as the game annoyed me, it drew me back. As angry and frustrated and positively ticked off I would get while hacking my way through various grasses and plant material, afterwards I would find myself wondering when I could go back. On the occasion that I made some remarkable swing, chip, putt -- no wait, never made a remarkable putt -- or whatever, that feat would make me feel like I could conquer the world. I haven't played in what is now going on a couple of years...hmm, wonder why. I highly doubt another round is anywhere in the cards for me in the near future either. But for some reason, it's been on my mind lately.

If you read the post from Mother's Day, you read all about Greta's proclamations of love and affections towards her family. This morning, all dressed up and looking pretty for the day, she stood in the doorway to my bedroom and -- complete with hands angelically clasped before her -- smiled and said to me "Mommy, you and Daddy and Clara are all in my heart. My whole family, even everyone in Michigan...(and yes, she named you all). Are all in my heart." I have to admit I was speechless. No words I can say, no hug I could give, could even compare to what she had just so honestly shared. I sat still for a moment, which actually must have been several because she smiled and scampered off into the other room before I had time to respond. I felt bad, but it was also clear she wasn't looking for me to say something. She was just saying what was on her mind. No strings attached, no reciprocation needed.

So, with all of that, I have come to a conclusion. Golf, and parenting really are not that much different. It only takes one great shot, one superior swing, one feeling that you may have come a bit closer to conquering the mystery of 'the game' to bring you back again and again (and, in our case, again). I know there will be moments/days/weeks that I will need to look back on this post and remember all of this, and I will not want to do that. And that's okay. I'll get up and start practicing my techniques all over again, find ways to improve, ready to try new things For the rare hole in one a golfer might be lucky to get in his/her lifetime, it takes thousands of shots in the water to get there. As a parent we might not always have thousands of chances to improve on something, but sometimes it's easier at least to figure out what went wrong in the first place.

Over on the side bar I have (hopefully) embedded a You Tube video from the Laurie Berkner Band singing the song that I am sure inspired Greta's tribute this morning. It is called "Family", and they play it on Nick Jr. quite regularly. She always sings along to itl

The Lover and the Liar

2010-05-11T05:50:00.004-04:00

Coming off of an afternoon celebration of hearing Clara count to ten, an achievement I've been waiting for in vain since rarely does Clara choose to speak more than two words in a row--or is it that she just never has the opportunity to speak more? So today, after finding a small cache of hidden Easter candy in a basket in the garage (garage? Yes, garage. It was in the basket on the shelf after a mad dash from the kitchen cabinet without anyone seeing. Hey, so far it's made it farther than that bag of Halloween candy still sitting high up on a shelf) and noticing Clara was extreeeeeemely quiet, she brought her treasure over to me. Greta decided to play Candy Store with it, and Clara went along for the ride, but I was so excited to listen to her counting her pieces of candy. (Author's note: I am pleased to say that no candy was eaten and no temper tantrums were had in accordance with this parental decision, although that pack of Smarties almost drove me to violate my own proclamation.)

After Chris was home he was in the backyard barbecuing, and Greta was watering the grass -- and immediately labeled herself Supervisor, a role she makes sure she is in whenever it seems like an activity might need supervising. Chris called me outside, and told Greta to tell me what she had just said. Grinning sheepishly and with doe eyes, she calmly announced in her nearing-5-year old voice that her very best friend at school has now asked Greta to marry him. "And", she went on with the leveled voice of legal announcement, "he was serious." Cue big grin. Chris told her to make sure James came to talk to him, and I told her to ask for a big ring. (Nothing like teaching values to today's youth, huh.) So, evidently Chris and I better just forget about ever saving for our retirement, hopefully we can get her through college before she walks down the aisle.

Now on to the lying. Could it be that my baby , is taking innocence and giving it a swift kick in the pants? Kicking, funny I choose to use that. Exactly the point of this story. In the bathtub the other night, the girls were playing. Not together, just splashing about doing their own pre-scrub thing. Clara had been saying something a few times, but I really wasn't sure what it was. Until, it finally came through clear to me. "Honey kick me". "Greta kicked you?" I asked between smiles of 3 COMPLETE words...in a row...coming from my little bird's mouth. "Uh-huh, Honey kick me." Nearly completely appalled for being blamed for an atrocity both she and I know did not happen, Greta didn't let this one go untouched. After calming the rough seas on one side of the tub, the other side was still fervently repeating her exclamation. Interesting, I thought as my parental hamster spun wildly on its wheel. Clearly a lie, as I was sitting here engaged with both girls in the tub. Did Clara feel something and THINK this happened, is this a bold-faced lie? What to do now? I remember from my Developmental Psychology classes (two of my favorite classes in school) the nature vs. nurture debate, and is behvior learned or acquired. By now, I feel completely comfortable saying that, as far as I have witnessed, lying is a self-preservation technique developed very very early on. I will save the essay I could produce for another time, but am just simply verifying the fact that nothing I have done would have taught my baby to lie like this. Her sister? Well, I'm quite sure that along with a few other less than desirable attributes, this might be something she picked up along the way. So look out if you're anywhre near Clara, you never know what you may be accused of.