I'm simmin!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Think Pink!
We went for the 20 week sonogram yesterday and it was so exciting! I got to see my sweet angel moving about, her skeleton in plain view.
Yes, I said HER.
Bella's going to have a little sister! My husband is elated, not at all disappointed she's not a he. I'm so glad because this is our last baby and he's the last in his family line.
Baby girl is about the size of a zucchini and perfectly proportioned. Her profile looks just like her sister who has tiny but prominent features. It is very hard to imagine what this baby will really look like because Bella is a such a mix of my husband and I. We can hardly wait!
We had a couple of names we were tossing around but now that we're certain baby is a girl, we've wiped the slate clean. If you have name suggestions, they are more than welcome!
Now we move on to planning Bella's 2nd birthday. My little big girl is going to be TWO! She's already singing Happy Birthday. I think she'll embrace the idea of celebrating her birthdays the whole month just like her aunt and I have always done :)
Yes, I said HER.
Bella's going to have a little sister! My husband is elated, not at all disappointed she's not a he. I'm so glad because this is our last baby and he's the last in his family line.
Baby girl is about the size of a zucchini and perfectly proportioned. Her profile looks just like her sister who has tiny but prominent features. It is very hard to imagine what this baby will really look like because Bella is a such a mix of my husband and I. We can hardly wait!
We had a couple of names we were tossing around but now that we're certain baby is a girl, we've wiped the slate clean. If you have name suggestions, they are more than welcome!
Now we move on to planning Bella's 2nd birthday. My little big girl is going to be TWO! She's already singing Happy Birthday. I think she'll embrace the idea of celebrating her birthdays the whole month just like her aunt and I have always done :)
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Experience Does Not Make All-Knowing
I am now 18 weeks along in my pregnancy and FINALLY over the daily nausea and yelling at the porcelain bowl.
I guess I thought being pregnant the second time would be a piece of cake. Everyone said I wouldn't be sick. Okay. I was just sick-er.
Everyone said I'd have bundles of energy during the second trimester, commonly known as the "honeymoon phase." I still require the same two hour nap with Isabella every day and 8:30pm can't get here quick enough.
There are, however, a few things different.
I am already feeling the Braxton Hicks. To most seasoned breeders, this would not come as a shock. It sure as heck did to me! I frantically emailed my sister about it (knowing she was already perched in front of the screen for the evening) and at the same time Googled all I could about this surprising turn of events. Seems that around 17 weeks, it is normal to feel the false contractions, as long as I get no more than 4 in an hour. So I lay in bed till about midnight, waiting as each hour passed to see if I felt any more than the two I'd felt three hours prior.
My back and hips ache sooner than with Bella. I've only gained 2 lbs, having puked off 7 lbs in the previous trimester, but I'm sporting a nice little soccer ball. It has always weirded me out, however, that when I lay flat, the soccer ball disappears and I'm not so sure it doesn't all slide to the back.
In all, I feel great, but it has been interesting to compare this pregnancy with my first one. I definitely don't have time to obsess about it every moment this time around. I even forget how many weeks along I am! For now, we're focused on May 24, when our little peapod will hopefully be in the mood to show his/her wares so the name game can narrow down a bit.
Monday, May 08, 2006
The Light's On But No One's Home
Have you ever done something for a really long time and thought nothing of it until one day you realize you're a moron?
My husband and I shared that moment on Friday night, thanks to our daughter.
We inherited a beautiful home 5 1/2 years ago from a wonderful woman who loved my husband as her own son. She was a very unique person and that is evident throughout the house.
In our room, next to our bed, is a light switch. She stayed in this room when sick with cancer and was bed-ridden for many months before her death. Naturally, we assumed that light switch was there to help her control a certain aspect of her room from the comfort of bed. First, we thought it was for the lamps. No. Perhaps the ceiling fan? No. Maybe she could turn off the music from the living room that was wired to play throughout the house? Nope.
We finally decided that maybe the switch just no longer works and really was meant for the lamps, like in a hotel.
I mentioned that Isabella is a curious little somebody. She's quite the prowler, especially in our house. She found that light switch about 4 months ago and has played with it pretty much daily since then. Why not? The dang thing didn't work anyway.
Friday night, we were all laying in bed watching America's Funniest Videos and she was fiddling with the light switch. All of the sudden, I noticed through the bathroom windows that the outside lights were flicking on and off.
Yes. The bedside light switch controlled the OUTDOOR LIGHTS! That means for 4 months, my daughter has been sending out what our neighbors must think is some strange SOS signal to UFO's or else we have really big electrical issues. My husband and I just stared as she continued playing with the switch, dumbfounded that it took the actions of a 22 month old to unlock the mystery of something so simple.
My husband and I shared that moment on Friday night, thanks to our daughter.
We inherited a beautiful home 5 1/2 years ago from a wonderful woman who loved my husband as her own son. She was a very unique person and that is evident throughout the house.
In our room, next to our bed, is a light switch. She stayed in this room when sick with cancer and was bed-ridden for many months before her death. Naturally, we assumed that light switch was there to help her control a certain aspect of her room from the comfort of bed. First, we thought it was for the lamps. No. Perhaps the ceiling fan? No. Maybe she could turn off the music from the living room that was wired to play throughout the house? Nope.
We finally decided that maybe the switch just no longer works and really was meant for the lamps, like in a hotel.
I mentioned that Isabella is a curious little somebody. She's quite the prowler, especially in our house. She found that light switch about 4 months ago and has played with it pretty much daily since then. Why not? The dang thing didn't work anyway.
Friday night, we were all laying in bed watching America's Funniest Videos and she was fiddling with the light switch. All of the sudden, I noticed through the bathroom windows that the outside lights were flicking on and off.
Yes. The bedside light switch controlled the OUTDOOR LIGHTS! That means for 4 months, my daughter has been sending out what our neighbors must think is some strange SOS signal to UFO's or else we have really big electrical issues. My husband and I just stared as she continued playing with the switch, dumbfounded that it took the actions of a 22 month old to unlock the mystery of something so simple.
Monday, May 01, 2006
He's No Weenie!
This is Zeus.
Some of you may remember me posting about the emergency surgery he had to have when two of the discs ruptured in his spine. At the time, it was a major gamble because Dachsunds are notorious for this degenerative disease. What made it more difficult was the surgeon expected one disc rupture and not two when she began operating. She gave him slim to none odds that he'd ever walk again.
Well, there he is. Seven months later and the little fighter not only walks but can run...like a rabbit, but run nonetheless! He is hump-backed to compensate and I really don't think he has much feeling in his back feet, but the SOB (well! He is!) has resumed chasing the squirrels and annoying the neighbors on a daily basis. We couldn't be happier!
I plan to forward the pics and huge thank-you to Zeus' vet and surgeon. Had they not moved as quickly as they did, he surely would've died within days as the paralysis took hold.
Funny. We always swore we'd never spend more than $1500 to save an animal. That was the best $2500 we've ever spent!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Sweetest Words
Monday, April 17, 2006
One Tired Easter Bunny
Easter weekend in the country was fun and exhausting. Three little girls, all under the age of 3, running around screeching, giggling, fighting and playing so hard they nearly all passed out an hour before bedtime. I'm sore all over but can't figure out if it's because I was bending down so much to interact with the little ones or from sitting on that tiny picnic table of theirs trying to maintain some order during feeding times.
I think Isabella confused Easter with Halloween. She appears to be an Easter pirate.
This is before church, a day after TWO egg hunts. Barely functioning. In fact, she slept on her daddy the entire service. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
It was a wonderful weekend and I'm taking this week to recover from it. We look forward to Easter next year with her other cousin, Dillon, who I'm sure will be roarin' to go for Bella to boss him and her new brother/sister on the proper way to hunt a candy-filled egg.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Want A Giant Pickle With That?
Today I had my first real pregnancy food moment.
After running some early morning errands, I was starving so we stopped by a Starbucks drive thru. I ordered a decaf white chocolate mocha latte and a blueberry muffin. When I pulled around to the window, I asked if they had the sandwiches made already. She said they were just delivered fresh that morning.
So at 9:30am, I scarfed a ridiculously expensive tuna sandwich while Bella happily munched on a blueberry muffin.
After running some early morning errands, I was starving so we stopped by a Starbucks drive thru. I ordered a decaf white chocolate mocha latte and a blueberry muffin. When I pulled around to the window, I asked if they had the sandwiches made already. She said they were just delivered fresh that morning.
So at 9:30am, I scarfed a ridiculously expensive tuna sandwich while Bella happily munched on a blueberry muffin.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Monkey See...Monkey Do
I know now why people call little children monkeys. They climb on anything and everything with no fear. They poop or pee whenever necessary, diaper on or off. They mimic whatever they see or hear.
This past weekend, Bella's Aunt Amanda (AnAmana to Bella) and her cousin Dillon (D or Diyon) came for a short visit. It is always fun to spend time with my sister and nephew but even more entertaining is watching Isabella worship her AnAmana. She follows her around, asking what she's doing or where she's going. She'll give sweet kisses to Dillon and acknowledge me occasionally, but really it is all about Aunt Amanda.
One thing Amanda does is pump breastmilk for Dillon. She's done this diligently for 7 months and I'm in awe of her commitment. Apparently, Bella is in awe too. Not so much that Amanda does it for Dillon, but that Amanda puts those huge suction cups on with a machine that sounds like it could mow lawns.
So during bathtime after Amanda and Dillon left, my little monkey proceeded to put the suction cups from her mesh bath toy bag on her boobies. She concentrated real hard and got frustrated when they wouldn't stick. She didn't seem to appreciate me laughing either.
WHY do I have a video camera if I don't tape these things???
This past weekend, Bella's Aunt Amanda (AnAmana to Bella) and her cousin Dillon (D or Diyon) came for a short visit. It is always fun to spend time with my sister and nephew but even more entertaining is watching Isabella worship her AnAmana. She follows her around, asking what she's doing or where she's going. She'll give sweet kisses to Dillon and acknowledge me occasionally, but really it is all about Aunt Amanda.
One thing Amanda does is pump breastmilk for Dillon. She's done this diligently for 7 months and I'm in awe of her commitment. Apparently, Bella is in awe too. Not so much that Amanda does it for Dillon, but that Amanda puts those huge suction cups on with a machine that sounds like it could mow lawns.
So during bathtime after Amanda and Dillon left, my little monkey proceeded to put the suction cups from her mesh bath toy bag on her boobies. She concentrated real hard and got frustrated when they wouldn't stick. She didn't seem to appreciate me laughing either.
WHY do I have a video camera if I don't tape these things???
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The Sounds of Music
Today, our little peapod is officially 12 weeks and 2 days. My, how the time flies when you're puking every day.
I swear now that it is my second pregnancy, I've suddenly joined a secret club at my doctor's office. On my first visit to confirm that I'm pregnant, the nurses were uber friendly. Almost to the point of bringing on more nausea. My favorite nurse, Maria, filled out all the paperwork (apparently Pregnancy Brain Mush begins earlier second time around) and chatted with me for a good half hour. When my doctor came in, he actually made conversation with me rather than the usual instructions on how to put my feet in the stirrups.
The second checkup, which was yesterday, went just as peachy. Now I'm called "sweety" and "honey". I waited five minutes to get into a room. The nurse checked for the heartbeat, which was located quickly, much to my delight, and the doctor was in to see me, poked my tummy once and I was on my merry way. He even said I'm his easiest patient. That's exactly what a mommy-to-be wants to hear!
Not sure what I did to deserve this royal treatment but it is a far cry from the first pregnancy. The desk clerk, who was surely going to choke to death at the hands of some frazzled pregnant woman, if not by me, has even been...pleasant.
So now I imagine baby's birth day will be filled with rainbows, unicorns and lucky charms in the operating room. My doctor will sing, the nurses will hum and a great white light will emerge from my tummy as they deliver my newest angel.
That'll happen. Right?
I swear now that it is my second pregnancy, I've suddenly joined a secret club at my doctor's office. On my first visit to confirm that I'm pregnant, the nurses were uber friendly. Almost to the point of bringing on more nausea. My favorite nurse, Maria, filled out all the paperwork (apparently Pregnancy Brain Mush begins earlier second time around) and chatted with me for a good half hour. When my doctor came in, he actually made conversation with me rather than the usual instructions on how to put my feet in the stirrups.
The second checkup, which was yesterday, went just as peachy. Now I'm called "sweety" and "honey". I waited five minutes to get into a room. The nurse checked for the heartbeat, which was located quickly, much to my delight, and the doctor was in to see me, poked my tummy once and I was on my merry way. He even said I'm his easiest patient. That's exactly what a mommy-to-be wants to hear!
Not sure what I did to deserve this royal treatment but it is a far cry from the first pregnancy. The desk clerk, who was surely going to choke to death at the hands of some frazzled pregnant woman, if not by me, has even been...pleasant.
So now I imagine baby's birth day will be filled with rainbows, unicorns and lucky charms in the operating room. My doctor will sing, the nurses will hum and a great white light will emerge from my tummy as they deliver my newest angel.
That'll happen. Right?
Monday, March 06, 2006
Always My Baby
Today I took the first big step in facing the fact that my baby girl is growing up to be a little girl. I enrolled her in preschool. And I was so nervous about it!
Filling out all the paperwork, reading the curriculum and meeting the teachers was overwhelming. For me. Bella, on the other hand, was quite comfy in her new school surroundings.
How do I know?
Because when we showed up at the preschool, she immediately went to mingle with the other kids. She wanted to follow the 4 yr olds to their class. She began climbing the stairs to the classrooms. Started rattling off her ABC song as if to impress the sweet old lady who greets the children. She was ready to start today!
Granted, that was all done under the watchful eye of Mommy. How she'll do when I drop her off that first day is still up for debate. How I will do that first day is pretty much decided. I will bawl. Me and my big belly full of baby will heave and sob.
In all, I'm very excited for Isabella. She loves learning and socializing. She's just like her Aunt Amanda that way and will soak up everything the school has to offer her. Two days a week, I will have time with my newborn, which will be nice.
I'm sure as the first day of school nears, I will panic, wondering if she's too young, if she's ready, if I'm ready. Her first day may be full of panic or it may be blissfully fun. Either way, it is one more step in her wonderful journey of life that we take together. She will always be my baby, after all!
Filling out all the paperwork, reading the curriculum and meeting the teachers was overwhelming. For me. Bella, on the other hand, was quite comfy in her new school surroundings.
How do I know?
Because when we showed up at the preschool, she immediately went to mingle with the other kids. She wanted to follow the 4 yr olds to their class. She began climbing the stairs to the classrooms. Started rattling off her ABC song as if to impress the sweet old lady who greets the children. She was ready to start today!
Granted, that was all done under the watchful eye of Mommy. How she'll do when I drop her off that first day is still up for debate. How I will do that first day is pretty much decided. I will bawl. Me and my big belly full of baby will heave and sob.
In all, I'm very excited for Isabella. She loves learning and socializing. She's just like her Aunt Amanda that way and will soak up everything the school has to offer her. Two days a week, I will have time with my newborn, which will be nice.
I'm sure as the first day of school nears, I will panic, wondering if she's too young, if she's ready, if I'm ready. Her first day may be full of panic or it may be blissfully fun. Either way, it is one more step in her wonderful journey of life that we take together. She will always be my baby, after all!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
I'm Having A....
...Chicken...
Yes, ladies and gents, it appears that I'm going to have a chicken removed from me in October and not a child. Why? Because on the sonogram, my wee little inhabitant apparently has a yolk sac. When pregnant with Bella, I was told she had a placenta. But on the printout of this one's sonogram picture it is spelled out for me. Yolk sac.
So, any name suggestions for my little chick will be greatly appreciated.
Chicken will be born by c-section scheduled on Oct.2, if all goes well and he/she doesn't peck his/her way out sooner.
I love to plan in advance! I"m already obsessively redoing Isabella's room on the other side of the house as well as Cluckie's next to her. Think I'll go with yellow.
Yes, ladies and gents, it appears that I'm going to have a chicken removed from me in October and not a child. Why? Because on the sonogram, my wee little inhabitant apparently has a yolk sac. When pregnant with Bella, I was told she had a placenta. But on the printout of this one's sonogram picture it is spelled out for me. Yolk sac.
So, any name suggestions for my little chick will be greatly appreciated.
Chicken will be born by c-section scheduled on Oct.2, if all goes well and he/she doesn't peck his/her way out sooner.
I love to plan in advance! I"m already obsessively redoing Isabella's room on the other side of the house as well as Cluckie's next to her. Think I'll go with yellow.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Got milk...somewhere else?
I'm a huge proponent of breastfeeding and the rights women have to nurse wherever, whenever necessary.
Note that I said "necessary."
Bella's gym class is 45 minutes. The children in her class range from ages 18 months to 2 1/2 years. At this stage in their life, a child does not need to be demand fed, correct? We have, at this point, taught them that no drinks are allowed in class but they are more than welcome to a snack before or after class.
So when 22 month old Emma drops the purple ball she'd been bouncing off the shy girl's bum and runs to her mom on the edge of the mat screeching "boobie! boobie!", you'd think the mom would quietly take her obviously breastfed child over to the side and explain now isn't the time. Or at least take her to the little office and feed her there.
Did that happen?
No.
Instead, the mother very loudly fake whines "Emma! Right here? In CLASS?" and before the word "class" escapes her mouth, her shirt is up, child attached. Then the big to-do about her child biting her and hurting mommy. Then her FRIEND who was visiting for the one freebie class decides to nurse her child too.
Seriously?
Neither woman could wait to nurse their child? The children couldn't just be distracted with some other activity? Ooooooh, I was irritated. Those two mothers are what make so many uncomfortable with public breastfeeding.
In my fragile state, I'm not sure I can keep quiet next time...
Note that I said "necessary."
Bella's gym class is 45 minutes. The children in her class range from ages 18 months to 2 1/2 years. At this stage in their life, a child does not need to be demand fed, correct? We have, at this point, taught them that no drinks are allowed in class but they are more than welcome to a snack before or after class.
So when 22 month old Emma drops the purple ball she'd been bouncing off the shy girl's bum and runs to her mom on the edge of the mat screeching "boobie! boobie!", you'd think the mom would quietly take her obviously breastfed child over to the side and explain now isn't the time. Or at least take her to the little office and feed her there.
Did that happen?
No.
Instead, the mother very loudly fake whines "Emma! Right here? In CLASS?" and before the word "class" escapes her mouth, her shirt is up, child attached. Then the big to-do about her child biting her and hurting mommy. Then her FRIEND who was visiting for the one freebie class decides to nurse her child too.
Seriously?
Neither woman could wait to nurse their child? The children couldn't just be distracted with some other activity? Ooooooh, I was irritated. Those two mothers are what make so many uncomfortable with public breastfeeding.
In my fragile state, I'm not sure I can keep quiet next time...
Monday, February 13, 2006
How did this happen???
The chaos is about to get even more so.
I'd been feeling bad for a couple of weeks but Isabella was sick too so I just figured I was getting what she had. Then, because I'm a little slow, it dawned on me that I had nausea and headaches.
What do I do?
I wait until my husband leaves for a 7-day trip and go take a pregnancy test. So when the test comes back with one dark line and the faintest of faint second lines, I freak out. I call my husband, I call my sister. My husband had just stepped off the plane in Orlando. Walking with his boss to get his luggage. Think he was subtle in his reaction? They were the first two people to know.
I try desparately to call Amanda but she's got, like, a life or something. I call her house and when Daniel answers, I'm sure he was disturbed by my blabbering and I hope Amanda has been able to explain away the crazies.
I go get another test because that's exactly what you're supposed to do in this type of situation. Ignore your inner-voice that says "Um, hellooooooooo, two lines!" and pay $20 for the test that spells it out for you. In less than a minute, the little digital stick said in plain English "pregnant, you moron". Okay, the moron part was just implied.
I begin freaking again. For four days! Granted, this all might have been a little easier had I waited to take the test when my sweet husband was by my side, but I guess I honestly didn't think it had happened. It wasn't in our plans! We have to have the estate sale, sell our house, buy a new one and start baby #2 plans in '07.
Once again, God has proven He's not only in control, but He's got a sense of humor about it.
I go to my OB on the 28th just to confirm what I already know. At least seeing the sonogram of my little baby tadpole will make it all that much more real and I can prepare for a life with a toddler and a newborn. *faint*
I'd been feeling bad for a couple of weeks but Isabella was sick too so I just figured I was getting what she had. Then, because I'm a little slow, it dawned on me that I had nausea and headaches.
What do I do?
I wait until my husband leaves for a 7-day trip and go take a pregnancy test. So when the test comes back with one dark line and the faintest of faint second lines, I freak out. I call my husband, I call my sister. My husband had just stepped off the plane in Orlando. Walking with his boss to get his luggage. Think he was subtle in his reaction? They were the first two people to know.
I try desparately to call Amanda but she's got, like, a life or something. I call her house and when Daniel answers, I'm sure he was disturbed by my blabbering and I hope Amanda has been able to explain away the crazies.
I go get another test because that's exactly what you're supposed to do in this type of situation. Ignore your inner-voice that says "Um, hellooooooooo, two lines!" and pay $20 for the test that spells it out for you. In less than a minute, the little digital stick said in plain English "pregnant, you moron". Okay, the moron part was just implied.
I begin freaking again. For four days! Granted, this all might have been a little easier had I waited to take the test when my sweet husband was by my side, but I guess I honestly didn't think it had happened. It wasn't in our plans! We have to have the estate sale, sell our house, buy a new one and start baby #2 plans in '07.
Once again, God has proven He's not only in control, but He's got a sense of humor about it.
I go to my OB on the 28th just to confirm what I already know. At least seeing the sonogram of my little baby tadpole will make it all that much more real and I can prepare for a life with a toddler and a newborn. *faint*
Friday, February 03, 2006
Tough Love
This is Bella reaching for a hug from her cousin, Channing.
Note that Channing is wearing an arm cast.
This is what happened.
This is what happened.
Think it is a good thing the sleepover got cancelled?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Paging The Witch Doctor
I think Bella's new dentist is a witch. That is the only way I can explain why yesterday's visit went so smoothly and with nary a tear.
Another reason I think he's a witch is because her appt was originally with a completely different dentist at another office. When we showed up at the office, it was vacant! So a very helpful janitor (?) went next door to an older children's pediatric dental office and they called the Witch Doctor to squeeze us in.
Isabella always gets weirded out at doctor offices, no matter who's doctor. We walked in to this office and she immediately went to play in their toy corner. The office was painted in an adorable Dr. Seuss theme, bright and cheerful. They called us back to the exam room, inticing Bella with her own little toothbrush and a rubber duckie.
When Dr. Witch came in, he smiled, talked about his own family and Bella went to him with arms outstretched! MY CHILD did this! She who buries her head deep into my shoulder when anyone new even glances her way.
During the examination, Bella never shed a tear and barely squirmed. After the examination, she went off to play with the nurses while the doctor and I talked. She even wandered from exam room to exam room saying hello to the other children. When I went to pay the bill and came back, she not only never noticed I was gone, she was busy lounging in a tiny plastic chair, chatting with the nurses, chewing on her new toothbrush.
Wonder if Dr. Witch would mind if I dropped off Bella at his office so I could run some errands...
Another reason I think he's a witch is because her appt was originally with a completely different dentist at another office. When we showed up at the office, it was vacant! So a very helpful janitor (?) went next door to an older children's pediatric dental office and they called the Witch Doctor to squeeze us in.
Isabella always gets weirded out at doctor offices, no matter who's doctor. We walked in to this office and she immediately went to play in their toy corner. The office was painted in an adorable Dr. Seuss theme, bright and cheerful. They called us back to the exam room, inticing Bella with her own little toothbrush and a rubber duckie.
When Dr. Witch came in, he smiled, talked about his own family and Bella went to him with arms outstretched! MY CHILD did this! She who buries her head deep into my shoulder when anyone new even glances her way.
During the examination, Bella never shed a tear and barely squirmed. After the examination, she went off to play with the nurses while the doctor and I talked. She even wandered from exam room to exam room saying hello to the other children. When I went to pay the bill and came back, she not only never noticed I was gone, she was busy lounging in a tiny plastic chair, chatting with the nurses, chewing on her new toothbrush.
Wonder if Dr. Witch would mind if I dropped off Bella at his office so I could run some errands...
Friday, January 20, 2006
Who's That Girl?
In case you have not met, this is Isabella.
In case you are wondering, no, she does not sit still for Christmas pictures. I was being what she calls "silly mama" so she'd indulge me with two seconds of her time. The look is more wondering what's wrong with her mother than trying to strike a supermodel pose.
Hey, I'll take what I can get!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
His home is where his beer is.
On top of finding a new church this year, we will also be finding a new home. Sounds like no big deal to most people, but to us it has almost been traumatic even reaching the decision to do so.
My husband was born and raised here while I was like a gypsy the first part of my childhood, moving from state to state, ending up in a small town here in Texas before moving away on my own to the big city.
When my husband got a new, incredible job nearly an hour and a half drive away, it was a no brainer for me to move. In fact, I'm restless to do so considering we've lived here five years, that's like 20 years in gypsy terms. My husband, on the other hand, is like a see-saw in his decision about moving.
I'll get SOOOOOO excited after we've looked at new neighborhoods or old homes we could redo. I'll gush about all the Starbucks drive thrus, the shopping, or the schools (Okay, maybe I should work on priorities). He'll be right along with me, then the wind will blow and he's mopey again about moving from his beloved city and home.
How do I pry my darling husband's fingers from the bar at his favorite BBQ joint? Or drag him away from his favorite downtown Tex-Mex? Or coax him into trying one of the five other restaurant-style movie taverns? How do I convice the man I love that we CAN still drive to his city any time he wants?
Oh, yeah. I'll just let him keep driving the hour 1/2 to and from work each day as he curses in ways his daughter will never hear, gesturing at the cars moving so slowly you could get home faster by walking.
My husband was born and raised here while I was like a gypsy the first part of my childhood, moving from state to state, ending up in a small town here in Texas before moving away on my own to the big city.
When my husband got a new, incredible job nearly an hour and a half drive away, it was a no brainer for me to move. In fact, I'm restless to do so considering we've lived here five years, that's like 20 years in gypsy terms. My husband, on the other hand, is like a see-saw in his decision about moving.
I'll get SOOOOOO excited after we've looked at new neighborhoods or old homes we could redo. I'll gush about all the Starbucks drive thrus, the shopping, or the schools (Okay, maybe I should work on priorities). He'll be right along with me, then the wind will blow and he's mopey again about moving from his beloved city and home.
How do I pry my darling husband's fingers from the bar at his favorite BBQ joint? Or drag him away from his favorite downtown Tex-Mex? Or coax him into trying one of the five other restaurant-style movie taverns? How do I convice the man I love that we CAN still drive to his city any time he wants?
Oh, yeah. I'll just let him keep driving the hour 1/2 to and from work each day as he curses in ways his daughter will never hear, gesturing at the cars moving so slowly you could get home faster by walking.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
#1 God
Who's God is best?
This is the question my husband and I are trying to find answers to in our quest to join a church this year. First, we have to figure out which denomination we agree most with. Have you SEEN how many there are in America? I found a book in our massive library collection that gave an overview of each denomination of Christianity in the US. There are at least 66, currently. Talk about daunting!
I would imagine that most Christians or other religious believers follow the path of that which they were raised. Or, they come from a backround that involved many denominatons within their family. Maybe one grandmother was Catholic, the other Southern Baptist, an aunt who's Non-denominational or the uncle who's just decided to believe nothing at all.
I've also observed that one has to be careful of the conversations or questions you may have concerning someone's particular denomination or personal beliefs. Get too in depth and you can step on toes or cross over into a gray area of understanding of their own church's doctrine.
So, we've decided to try different churches within several denominations over the next year. While we are Christians, neither of us wants to just attend a church as if only paying our dues to God. We want to find a church home, one that we can raise Isabella to be a part of because we truly want to be there, not because we're pressured to just go SOMEWHERE.
It is amazing when you really look into different churches' doctrine how the details can be quite extreme one way or another from what you really believe.
As New Year's Resolution, or perhaps more of a New Spiritual Resolution, we will begin our mission soon. Where we begin is beyond us. Maybe we'll just start with a prayer.
This is the question my husband and I are trying to find answers to in our quest to join a church this year. First, we have to figure out which denomination we agree most with. Have you SEEN how many there are in America? I found a book in our massive library collection that gave an overview of each denomination of Christianity in the US. There are at least 66, currently. Talk about daunting!
I would imagine that most Christians or other religious believers follow the path of that which they were raised. Or, they come from a backround that involved many denominatons within their family. Maybe one grandmother was Catholic, the other Southern Baptist, an aunt who's Non-denominational or the uncle who's just decided to believe nothing at all.
I've also observed that one has to be careful of the conversations or questions you may have concerning someone's particular denomination or personal beliefs. Get too in depth and you can step on toes or cross over into a gray area of understanding of their own church's doctrine.
So, we've decided to try different churches within several denominations over the next year. While we are Christians, neither of us wants to just attend a church as if only paying our dues to God. We want to find a church home, one that we can raise Isabella to be a part of because we truly want to be there, not because we're pressured to just go SOMEWHERE.
It is amazing when you really look into different churches' doctrine how the details can be quite extreme one way or another from what you really believe.
As New Year's Resolution, or perhaps more of a New Spiritual Resolution, we will begin our mission soon. Where we begin is beyond us. Maybe we'll just start with a prayer.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
You Snooze, You Lose
Have you ever watched a 1 1/2 year old "prep" for bedtime? Well, I have an insider's view and it one of the most hilarious things I've ever witnessed.
I decided to take the long and treacherous road of letting Bella set her own pace for milestones such as nursing and sleeping through the night. Let me just say that baby #2 will NOT have this luxury.
After 12 months of nursing, I'd had enough of the abuse and decided to take the reins in weaning her. It has actually been a much easier and less painful process than I'd feared. It started with getting her into her own bed which is no longer a crib. Okay, it was really never a crib because she H-A-T-E-D it. She would not or could not ever sleep in it. She slept with us. That would've been lovely if she'd been a snuggler and not spread out like a starfish, shoving mom and dad to the edges. Or if she'd been able to sleep next to me without spending every two hours foraging for food.
We spend 4 months getting her used to her bed, a double mattress on the floor. I had to literally force myself to not just sleep next to her every time she woke up. I don't even remember walking back to bed half the time.
Miraculously, at about 16 1/2 months, she began to sleep hours at a time. HOURS. I couldn't believe it! Not to say that I slept like that. No, I woke up every two hours, contemplating whether she was either 1) no longer breathing or 2) had been kidnapped by a silent acrobat who climbed over the holly bushes and through the double pane window with nary a noise picked up by the monitor.
At 18 months, we were both sleeping 6-8 hours a night.
I know!
I do still lay with her at bedtime or naptime, but there's no nursing and she is actually oblivious to my existence by the time she dozes. That can take 5 minutes to 45 minutes. She will sing, scratch the sheets with her tiny claws, stand on her head, practice tumbling, scold her babydoll, click her tongue, give herself whiplash slinging her head left and right, or blink with intense concentration.
I need to video tape her bedtime antics. She gets such an incredible rush of physical activity before rolling over and crashing out. Wonderfully sweet and quietly funny. My husband isn't nearly as entertaining with his roll over and snore routine.
I decided to take the long and treacherous road of letting Bella set her own pace for milestones such as nursing and sleeping through the night. Let me just say that baby #2 will NOT have this luxury.
After 12 months of nursing, I'd had enough of the abuse and decided to take the reins in weaning her. It has actually been a much easier and less painful process than I'd feared. It started with getting her into her own bed which is no longer a crib. Okay, it was really never a crib because she H-A-T-E-D it. She would not or could not ever sleep in it. She slept with us. That would've been lovely if she'd been a snuggler and not spread out like a starfish, shoving mom and dad to the edges. Or if she'd been able to sleep next to me without spending every two hours foraging for food.
We spend 4 months getting her used to her bed, a double mattress on the floor. I had to literally force myself to not just sleep next to her every time she woke up. I don't even remember walking back to bed half the time.
Miraculously, at about 16 1/2 months, she began to sleep hours at a time. HOURS. I couldn't believe it! Not to say that I slept like that. No, I woke up every two hours, contemplating whether she was either 1) no longer breathing or 2) had been kidnapped by a silent acrobat who climbed over the holly bushes and through the double pane window with nary a noise picked up by the monitor.
At 18 months, we were both sleeping 6-8 hours a night.
I know!
I do still lay with her at bedtime or naptime, but there's no nursing and she is actually oblivious to my existence by the time she dozes. That can take 5 minutes to 45 minutes. She will sing, scratch the sheets with her tiny claws, stand on her head, practice tumbling, scold her babydoll, click her tongue, give herself whiplash slinging her head left and right, or blink with intense concentration.
I need to video tape her bedtime antics. She gets such an incredible rush of physical activity before rolling over and crashing out. Wonderfully sweet and quietly funny. My husband isn't nearly as entertaining with his roll over and snore routine.
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