I've been tagged by fellow band geek, friend, and mother of 4, Jamie. I didn't forget about you jamie!
As with everything in life there are rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged
The 6 UN-spectacular things about me...
1. I have this pet peeve of people saying "have I told you this?" before you know what they're about to tell you. I realize this is usually a rhetorical question, but still. It just bugs me.
2. I wait anxiously for the Sunday paper, and never actually read the paper, but I just HAVE to look at the ads. I don't know how this started, but it's been my thing for a long time. I'd even venture to say it's my favorite thing about Sunday. How pathetic. No, not the fact that it's a day to worship the one who gave me life. No, I'm excited about the Sunday ads.
3. I ALWAYS sing in the car. When I'm alone, I should say.
4. I scrapbook. I know. What mom my age doesn't? But I'm a total dork and even go to conventions for it!
5. I was an ultimate band geek. or updated term: bando rambo. I was in all kinds of bands in high school, a big-10 marching band in college, I majored in music education and know how to play almost every instrument, though my primary instrument is flute.
6. I go through extremes with my hair. I'll grow it, then chop it, then grow it again, etc, etc. I'm never happy with it for too long at a time.
TAG! You're It! (This is the part that always stalls me. If you want to be tagged, then feel free to play along. Such a rule breaker. I know.)
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Cuteness Factor
Today started out in a bad way with my 3-year old. I swear, 3-year olds are the biggest tester of your will. 2 was nothing compared to some of the stuff we're dealing with right now. For that reason I decided The Cuteness Factor was in order, to help me look for the positive. For all the negatives, there are WAY more positives, and sometimes I need to remind myself.
Matthew
I was thinking about something that started a little while ago. At his grandparents' house, there is an animal bingo game that Matthew loves to play. Only he doesn't want to play, he wants to be the bingo caller. It is the cutest thing ever. And I almost don't want to ever play it again because I just think it will get less cute the better he gets at talking. And I have this perfect recording of his voice in my head that I just don't want to lose. He hands out the round bingo cards, and proceeds to begin pulling little animal chips out of the bingo big. He'll pull one out, and say "adybody have a goat?", and he waits for someone to raise their hand and say "I do!" Or he himself says, "oh, oh, I do!" Repeat. (and some of these are difficult animals) "adybody have a wiraffe?" After a while he gets bored with waiting for someone to say "I do," and he becomes the master of the game, aware of who has what animals on their card, and starts handing out the piece before they can answer.
One of the times he played animal bingo was funny, because the night had started out rough, and first he had run out and collapsed into a crying heap when he realized how many people were looking at him, then a few minutes later, someone meaning really well tried to be silly and say "boo" from around the corner, and he then screamed, had a flight or fight response and ran head first into the stairs to hide, hurting himself and commencing into a scream sob routine. By the time we were about ready to leave, he became this master bingo caller, and while in another part of the house, I could hear him lighting up a whole room of adults with laughter. This kid has an amazing ability to light up a room, when he overcomes the shyness. I hope he keeps that trait because I absolutely adore the people that can animate a room full of people.
The past two days when I've come home from work, as I am now the last to arrive, the instant I open the door I hear "mommy's here!" and Matthew comes running to hug me. I was very thankful he did it tonight after the rough morning we had. And do I mean rough. That's another story. The funny thing with kids is their inability to hold a grudge. Another great trait!
Ellie
Ellie has started to crawl in spite of her giant casted arm. It is the cutest thing ever. At this point, it's more like she gets up an all fours, and pushes herself forward with her toes landing back on her tummy while moving forward. Sometimes she gets carried away and kind of topples over her cast onto her face. She takes a licking and keeps on ticking though. I haven't seen her even cry when that happens.
She has started this thing where she looks like she's talking to you, but doesn't make a noise. She just opens and closes her mouth, with a big gummy grin. I just love their gums as the get closer to getting teeth. She still doesn't have any, and I'm trying to memorize that gummy grin of hers before it's gone.
Last night, while Daddy pulled off Ellie's socks, he did it in such a way that she burst into a fit of giggles. Naturally he exaggerated the 2nd sock and dragged out the suspense even longer, so that even though she wasn't watching, she absolutely burst with excitement and a new fit of giggles. Baby giggles are the best sound ever created!
Mission accomplished. I am now fully aware of the good points of my children and can overlook that hideous morning. Thank goodness.
Matthew
I was thinking about something that started a little while ago. At his grandparents' house, there is an animal bingo game that Matthew loves to play. Only he doesn't want to play, he wants to be the bingo caller. It is the cutest thing ever. And I almost don't want to ever play it again because I just think it will get less cute the better he gets at talking. And I have this perfect recording of his voice in my head that I just don't want to lose. He hands out the round bingo cards, and proceeds to begin pulling little animal chips out of the bingo big. He'll pull one out, and say "adybody have a goat?", and he waits for someone to raise their hand and say "I do!" Or he himself says, "oh, oh, I do!" Repeat. (and some of these are difficult animals) "adybody have a wiraffe?" After a while he gets bored with waiting for someone to say "I do," and he becomes the master of the game, aware of who has what animals on their card, and starts handing out the piece before they can answer.
One of the times he played animal bingo was funny, because the night had started out rough, and first he had run out and collapsed into a crying heap when he realized how many people were looking at him, then a few minutes later, someone meaning really well tried to be silly and say "boo" from around the corner, and he then screamed, had a flight or fight response and ran head first into the stairs to hide, hurting himself and commencing into a scream sob routine. By the time we were about ready to leave, he became this master bingo caller, and while in another part of the house, I could hear him lighting up a whole room of adults with laughter. This kid has an amazing ability to light up a room, when he overcomes the shyness. I hope he keeps that trait because I absolutely adore the people that can animate a room full of people.
The past two days when I've come home from work, as I am now the last to arrive, the instant I open the door I hear "mommy's here!" and Matthew comes running to hug me. I was very thankful he did it tonight after the rough morning we had. And do I mean rough. That's another story. The funny thing with kids is their inability to hold a grudge. Another great trait!
Ellie
Ellie has started to crawl in spite of her giant casted arm. It is the cutest thing ever. At this point, it's more like she gets up an all fours, and pushes herself forward with her toes landing back on her tummy while moving forward. Sometimes she gets carried away and kind of topples over her cast onto her face. She takes a licking and keeps on ticking though. I haven't seen her even cry when that happens.
She has started this thing where she looks like she's talking to you, but doesn't make a noise. She just opens and closes her mouth, with a big gummy grin. I just love their gums as the get closer to getting teeth. She still doesn't have any, and I'm trying to memorize that gummy grin of hers before it's gone.
Last night, while Daddy pulled off Ellie's socks, he did it in such a way that she burst into a fit of giggles. Naturally he exaggerated the 2nd sock and dragged out the suspense even longer, so that even though she wasn't watching, she absolutely burst with excitement and a new fit of giggles. Baby giggles are the best sound ever created!
Mission accomplished. I am now fully aware of the good points of my children and can overlook that hideous morning. Thank goodness.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Double Near Death Experiences in Duluth
I've been meaning to write about my day in Duluth I spent recently with my fabulous friend, Britt. First of all, she rocks, and we had so much fun! Second of all, what's better than a near death experience? DOUBLE the near death experiences...Near death #1:
Upon arriving in Duluth, unbeknownst to us, there was a line of cars backing up for the ramp into Canal Park. The only ramp into Canal Park from the freeway. Fun. As luck would have it, there was a truck in front of us pulling a large trailer. We're driving along, discussing our families actually, when all of a sudden the truck whips into the shoulder, almost tipping over the trailer and the instant the truck does that, we suddenly view the stopped line of cars. By some miracle, I slammed the brakes and hopped in the left lane just in the nick of time. Talk about scary. Britt recovered almost immediately, but I shook for a while. I just felt awful knowing she was my passenger and would have taken the worst hit. Yikes!!
Near death #2:
While riding the not-at-all-embarassment-of-a-bicycle-built-for-two, the "deuce coupe," we seemed incapable of stopping laughing at ourselves. I had a brilliant idea to take the action shot below. (yes, those are my super cute feet)
So I'm rummaging away for the camera, not thinking about the fact that I'm the one steering, and all of a sudden Britt is yelling at me and then thunk, we fall off the path. You should have seen the look of terror on her face. That made me laugh even harder. Her biggest fear, and nagging point might I add, was tipping the deuce coupe. I kept rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness of that, and here we were, almost tipping it. Or here I was, rather, almost tipping it. HAHAHAHA, it still makes me laugh. And judging by her reaction, it was the 2nd near death experience of the day. Honestly, I think she was more scared by this one than the 1st. This day was so much fun for me, my little escape! Plus what better company to spend the day with! Awesome. I want to go again. I, for some reason, am in love with Duluth. Every time I go, I think I want to live there and by the end of the day decide that I couldn't. As cool as it is, it's still a small town, and it is so isolated. And imagine a Lake Superior winter. Yuck! The bitter wind and gray sky. What I love about Duluth is the sunny, breezy day in the 70s - it's my absolute favorite - needing a sweatshirt in the morning and at night, but being able to get hot in the mid-day. But never too hot. And at night, I absolutely love the sound of the lake and the wind. It is heavenly. The perfect place in the summer for shorts and sweatshirt weather. I know. What a dork. It's the little things, people!
I feel obligated to mention one discovery I made, and unfortunately I don't have the proof right now. But Britt apparently likes photo ops. "Hey, julie, climb back in there in the middle of the field of flowers." "Hey, julie, do this." "Hey julie, do that." "Hey, julie, stop the car by that giant Paul Bunyon so we can set the timer and get a picure with him." "Hey, julie, stop by that giant chicken that looks like foghorn leghorn." See what I mean? It's unforunate not to have the proof and share these lovely photo creations.
A day in the name of fun.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Deep in Paranoia
Do you ever get the feeling you might be going crazy? You get something in your head, and just can’t shake it, no matter how much paranoia may be involved with you getting that something in your head. Well, so for some reason I have had this growing feeling something is just not right with my two very best friends, who happen to be sisters. A couple of issues here. First of all, they are very close sisters. Second of all, it’s friends in 3, and we all know 3 can be a difficult combination. I don’t want to delve into it too much, but I finally decided I couldn’t wonder any longer and sent an email to see if something is wrong. And before you think how impersonal an email is or something, know that at least 2 of the 3 of us feel funny talking on the phone. Not to each other, but just in general. So I’m pretty sure they are now thinking I’m totally insane, but being deep in paranoia, I probably really AM insane. I hate dragging this out into the open, but I have a nervous pit in my stomach and need to ramble about this (hence the title Julie’s Ramblings). Welcome to my crazy brain. It takes a lot of work to get this brain through the day sometimes. Plus now I’m sitting here completely anxious and scared of the reaction. Oh, brother. Somebody help me please. Why is it so hard to stay connected when we’re in adulthood?! I ABSOLUTELY hate that! Can’t we just be in college again? Not having to pay yet for our education, not having to work or care for children, having hardly a care in the world besides what to do on Friday night with your friends. Ahhh, that sounds like the life. But then, of course, I’d be devoid of my wonderful husband and silly, beautiful children. We have here, what you call, a moot point.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Stage 2 Complete!
We are home already from Ellie's stage 2 procedure. She now has 5 seperate fingers on her left hand! We haven't seen them, because now they are wrapped up in a bright pink cast. She was out of surgery about 3pm, and we got home shortly after 5 and she has been sleeping ever since. She is one VERY tired girl! But thank God we're done. We go back in 4 weeks to see the surgeon and get the cast removed. The surgeon said the skin grafts look really good from the 1st time around. They removed the pin from her thumb, which had actually moved a bit, so they opened the thumb again and stitched it back up.
Whew, what a relief!
Whew, what a relief!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
MISCELLANEOUS
Stage 2 Operation
Ellie goes in for stage 2 of syndactyly correction Friday. The surgery is at noon. This procedure is the same as the first, except this time it is less complex. They are separating skin webbing only on the 2nd & 4th web. The procedure is much shorter – about an hour & a half, and no overnight stay this time. Yay! Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind the overnight stay last time, but it will just be nice to let her sleep it off in her own surroundings. She will again have a cast for 4 weeks afterwards. I cannot wait to be done with that thing. I think it is really starting to irritate her. Especially since she’s trying to crawl these days. I know she’s going to find a way. Hence my previous entry about baby gates…. I am really hoping they will let us see her hand before casting it again, but I doubt they will. I’m pretty sure they’ll cut the cast when she’s already asleep. I mean, it’s complete torture to remove the cast anyway. And I doubt they’ll let us in the O/R for that.
Obsession
I have begun a new obsession with the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I have been hearing about this book series for the longest time, so I finally decided to pick up a copy of the first book in the series, and I am absolutely hooked! For me to finish a book in a week’s time is incredible. I have less than 100 pages left! Be proud, this is a rare occurrence and I am very proud of myself. But you can hardly help it once you start. It’s technically teenage fiction, but it doesn’t read that way. Last night while I was reading, so much was happening in the book that I don’t think I’ve ever read faster. I love it. So thank you for the non-stop talk about this book and sucking me in. Now I have 4 books to read, and these aren’t small books either people. The 1st one is 500 pages!
The Potty Saga
I am so proud of my boy! He has been keeping many diapers dry this week, since Sunday or Monday, and we started a potty chart with stickers to track his progress. He is very pleased with himself, too, which is a HUGE development in the right direction. YAY!!! Still no #2 in the toilet, but I have a feeling it is coming. Is it possible? Might we actually get rid of ½ the diaper changes in our house?!!! Oh please, oh please, oh please!
Ellie goes in for stage 2 of syndactyly correction Friday. The surgery is at noon. This procedure is the same as the first, except this time it is less complex. They are separating skin webbing only on the 2nd & 4th web. The procedure is much shorter – about an hour & a half, and no overnight stay this time. Yay! Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind the overnight stay last time, but it will just be nice to let her sleep it off in her own surroundings. She will again have a cast for 4 weeks afterwards. I cannot wait to be done with that thing. I think it is really starting to irritate her. Especially since she’s trying to crawl these days. I know she’s going to find a way. Hence my previous entry about baby gates…. I am really hoping they will let us see her hand before casting it again, but I doubt they will. I’m pretty sure they’ll cut the cast when she’s already asleep. I mean, it’s complete torture to remove the cast anyway. And I doubt they’ll let us in the O/R for that.
Obsession
I have begun a new obsession with the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I have been hearing about this book series for the longest time, so I finally decided to pick up a copy of the first book in the series, and I am absolutely hooked! For me to finish a book in a week’s time is incredible. I have less than 100 pages left! Be proud, this is a rare occurrence and I am very proud of myself. But you can hardly help it once you start. It’s technically teenage fiction, but it doesn’t read that way. Last night while I was reading, so much was happening in the book that I don’t think I’ve ever read faster. I love it. So thank you for the non-stop talk about this book and sucking me in. Now I have 4 books to read, and these aren’t small books either people. The 1st one is 500 pages!
The Potty Saga
I am so proud of my boy! He has been keeping many diapers dry this week, since Sunday or Monday, and we started a potty chart with stickers to track his progress. He is very pleased with himself, too, which is a HUGE development in the right direction. YAY!!! Still no #2 in the toilet, but I have a feeling it is coming. Is it possible? Might we actually get rid of ½ the diaper changes in our house?!!! Oh please, oh please, oh please!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Holy Cow
Okay. I finally just ordered a baby gate suitable to our house with weird stairways and 4-level split - lots of stairways - lots of needs for gates. Anyways I got the Kidco ConfigureGate, and I just have to share because it's on sale at a lot of sites right now for around $139, and I found it for $96, added a couple extensions, and it all ships for $7.95 flat!!! So, consider Happy Mothers for your baby shopping needs, or at least for price comparison. Just had to share, since I have a lot of people in my life with new babies or babies on the way.
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