Goodbye with old, hello to the new

Always an exciting time of the year, looking forward for a change. Its been a whirlwind week and a half, and honestly year. Im looking forward to 2008 and wiping the 2007 off my feet. The christmas tree is down and the decorations back in storage. Now to figure out where to put all of the wolverines things. We did alot less this year and kept our word to not overspend or go crazy with gifts and overwhelm the little guy. However, our families didnt get that memo....so between christmas and his birthday...well.....his room is a little crowded. But the upside is he should have plenty to entertain him over the coming months, the least of which is the arrival of the baby sister.

I hope you all have a happy new year!! And be safe tonight. WE will be spending the evening like all parents of a 3 yr old and one on the way.....holed up on the couch spending quality couple time in the front of the tv.

Christmas Spirit

If any of you are feeling the yuletide bliss head on over to our house Friday at 6:30 for our annual Christmas pot luck dinner. Just bring a dish and your best Christmas cheer.



We finally have a decorated tree.....and a few other decorations around to make it more merry. Now the trick is not going crazy trying to keep the wolverine from taking everything off the tree. How can something so small make me so insane.

I went to my work party friday night and the good DR. has outdone herself again on the giftgiving. For those of you who dont know in the last 3 years she has given me a digital camcorder, a digital camera, and an Ipod. This year we all unwrapped GPS systems from her. the lady is generous. But what i most appreciate from her is my job. Working with her has allowed me to be the parent i wanted to be. She is so gracious and flexible and understanding. Im amazed. The woman is a working machine....her work ethic is crazy, so there are times i feel like i really leave her with the short end of the stick. But hopefully when i am there, i am doing work that makes her business better and her patients happier.


So what is everyone doing for the holidays this year? Anyone traveling? Or hosting? Or just going to spend the time in quiet contemplation?

Fun moments with a friend

Time to play dress up!!! Noah likes the spaghetti straps. The wolverine is feeling more modest today.

Too much cuteness!

"Good Baby" Shofner

Scary Tim terrorizing the children!

Getting some air!!!

Best Buddies!

Higher!!

Greco-Roman wrestling!

A little cross dressing never hurt anyone!

Look at our Beautiful Tree!!!

that is what the wolverine said as we stood before our newly "built" tree which stands as bare as a babies bottom at birth. Not a light, not a decoration, not a piece of tinsel.

and yet, he still loves it.
Priceless.

Go! Speed Racer! Go!

http://movies.aol.com/movie/speed-racer-2008/28066/video/trailer-no-1/2033773

Im sorry, but i admit, the Wachowski brothers vision of Speed Racer seems right on target for me. How else would you bring this cartoon to present day. For many of us, the first "japanamation" we ever experienced, putting Speedy in the Wachowskis world seems a perfect fit. They so obviously love the genre....and with their penchant for black leather, we are sure to be lucky enough to see Matthew Fox bad assing it up all poured into a leather suit.

Looks fun. Hilariously great cast. Perfect popcorn flick.

Plum Tuckered Out

that is what i am. And frazzled. And frayed. I wont continue with the F words because its likely to lead nowhere good.

Today has been one of those days. I like to blame it on the hormones. Nothing horrible has happened. Ive actually gotten some small things done. But for the most part i feel very on edge, impatient, and heavy. Those are not good feelings to have when you are a third of family. Not good mothering feelings, not good partner feelings. I think today would have been an excellent day for me to just be by myself. Of course then i would have missed the good moments. And all of those included the "rest of the family".

I blame it on the hormones and on the fact that any time we sit down and discuss the state of our finances it tends to stress me out. Contemplating taking time off for post partum is scary. We have grown to depend on my financial contributions and without them things look "scoshy". (a word we use for a variety of things.) But we just need to do the couple of things we can to make it better and not worry about the rest.

Im trying to go down my growing list of things to do before the baby gets here. For a procrastinator that is a huge deal. Some of you understand im sure.

But somehow, even with diminishing funds, gestational diabetes, and too much to do in too little time i am feeling optimistic. I think that is what pregnancy does for you. Helps you to look ahead. Im also really looking forward to Christmas with the wolverine and Tim. This year it will be the little things that make it special. And i look forward to being able to create something as a family that will hopefully one day make some great memories for the wolverine. More then just.."Wow, we used to get alot of presents". I want him to think of Christmas and think of the smell of banana bread, decorating the tree together, enjoying all the lights and carols, spending time with family, and most of all being thankful for what we have that is the most precious, each other.

Halloween flashback

Here is the wolverine decked out like Lightning McQueen and me decked out like the 11 yr old version of myself complete with jammies, matching house shoes, pigtails, and a bite guard.

See what you people miss when you dont trick or treat at our house. Also, i believe the wolverine enjoyed launching the pumpkins into the front yard more then the trick or treating.

Thankful for Thanksgiving

The long weekend turned out to be exactly what i needed. A nice birthday melted into a wonderful time with family for the holidays. And much needed rest and PEACE. It ended with a birthday dinner for a friend and a relaxing and fun day with the hubby and wolverine.

Ive been SO wound up the last couple of months....i thought i would never be able to shake it off. I thought i would not get any time to just chill and relax and for one minute NOT be stressed out. But i was wrong. I actually found myself feeling good and happy and at peace. What a nice place to be for a change.

The hubby and I went christmas and birthday shopping for the wolverine. What is it about Toys R Us that can turn a responsible, sane adult into a 7 year old with money to spend????!!!! We actually did good. But for a few crazy minutes our shopping cart was filled to the brim with nothing but big items. Luckily somewhere between theSit and Swivel music station, the drum kit, and the hot wheels aisle, we regained out composure, put all but two reasonably priced items back and were on our way. It felt good. I dont want to be one of "those" parents with one of "those" kids. Plus....oh yeah....we are trying to save up a little before baby girl gets here so no need to shell out several hundred on a child who would be just as content with some empty egg cartons and one dollar hot wheels cars.

Happy Birthday Melinda. Welcome to your 30s.

Thanks Tim.......i love you.

Good night little man. I love you too.

Baby girl.......love you too.

Two for the price of one

Today i failed not one, but two tests.
My Iron test.
And my glucose tolerance test.
Ive never been so proud.

Whats new this week

Heroes- eh. It was alright. The hubby says it ranks with their best. Im not as enthralled.
Would rather spend my time watching Season 3 DVD of Veronica Mars we got last week. Now THAT is the Kristen Bell i can get behind.


My birthday is Wednesday. I will be 38. Eh.

Thanksgiving is Thursday. Going to the folks house. We will play Rook. It will be a rematch, the old folks versus me and the hubby. We went down last time like punks. Hopefully we can regain our respect.

Welcome Audrey Rose

congratulations to Rachel. Adam, and Jude on their latest addition. All are doing well after an eventful and special birth. They chose a homebirth this go around, but the midwife didnt make the birth. So, Rachel and Adam helped bring Audrey into the world, just the three of them. Beautiful.

20 years and counting

Well i just wrapped up the high school reunion trip and its taken a week to recover from the stress of planning, lack of sleep , and travel time. But it was worth the effort. I reconnected with several old friends and had a good time. I was reminded of alot of memories i didnt even know i had. And i came back with a bit of a different perception of who i might have been back there in high school or at least who people thought i was. It feels kind of like the end of some productive therapy session, you know? How weird.

I actually found someone to head up the planning committee for the 25th reunion so i feel like my work is done.

I enjoyed stepping back into the past for a few days. But i sure am glad its now instead of then.
If any of you want to get together with "today me" just holler. We need to be more social while the weather permits. I always hate how this city shuts down for a few months during the winter. No one wants to do anything or go anywhere. And with the baby due smack dab in winter wonderland, i need to get out now while i still can.

Its good to be back. The reunion reminded me of just how good ive got it and how far id come to get it.

Dentist accused of breast fondling

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071013/ap_on_fe_st/odd_accused_dentist;_ylt=AgqwS_J8IKbSzpRiltaBDl.hOrgF



Ok...first of all....the dentist should lose his license. Even though he is correct in saying that there is a connection between the pecs, TMJ, and SCM muscles a dentist is not qualified to work that. Unless of course he is a licensed massage therapist as well. It is a lame defense anyway. Dentist are taught some interoral massage....but that is INSIDE THE MOUTH. DUH!!!!

Of course the woman that was fondled 6 times in 2 years.....come on. How many times would you have to be touched inappropriately before finding a new dentist, at least? Yeah....ONCE! And better yet, who would sit there and let someone do that???? Hello......clean my teeth, check, put in new fillings, check, root canal, check, grope my breast???!!!!

YooHoo....Where are you????

***last years pumpkinfest****

So we have kind of been off the map lately. Things have just been a cluster**** around here. Too many pots to stir....i blame most of that on the hubby who tends to be able to only run on maximum overdrive. If he idles even for a moment he ends up sick, hurt, or (and i dont get this one) feeling useless. So alot of you we havent gotten to see much of lately. It doesnt mean we arent thinking of you.....lord knows i miss the grown up talk.

I had thought about doing a Halloween party, but this 20 year reunion is just taking any desire i have for event planning out of me. So what about those of you who arent busy Sunday just plan on coming over. Its impromptu, the house is a mess, we have no groceries in the kitchen right now, and absolutely no planning has gone into this. I just figure if we dont do this on occassion we will never see anyone again since we are adding to this brouhau in a few months.

So how about late afternoon......say 3:00......its total free for all. Bring something to snack on, bring something to drink, bring your children. If we get energized maybe we can hoof it over to the park. No plan, no rules, just some fall fun. Let me know if anyone can make it.


And speaking of fall fun...has anyone gone to a pumpkinfest yet? We are looking at going to this one http://www.biwaterfarm.com/

But out favorite was this one.... http://doublestink.com/index.html Sadly, it is no longer up and runnin...they are trying to sell the farm so if any of you enterprising young people want to pick up the mantle and have a few million to spare ....SAVE OUR PUMPKINFEST!!!

If you arent a girl scout,

dont you DARE knock on my door or ring my doorbell and try and sell me something.

I am about to go postal on the people who do this. Today a man rang my doorbell TWICE (as if ringing that extra time is going to get me to the door) and he was trying to sell something. I know this because he left a flyer on my doorknob NOT because i answered the door. I was very angry because he woke up the wolverine who had only been down for a little over an hour AND i had a lot of work to get done. Yesterday some other guy came by around the same time selling something.....again i didnt answer the door. If it happens again tomorrow i am not going to be held accountable for my actions.

So now i have to get a sign to put on the door saying NO SOLICITATION !!!! If it continues after that its going to get ugly.

I take real issue with these people. Im tired of being bombarded everywhere i go with people wanting sell me something, or ask me something, or poll me.

And dont ask me to have sympathy for someone "just doing their job". PPFfffftttt!!!!!

The Feminine Mystique

This little boy is going to be a big brother in a few months. Do you think he has a CLUE what that really means????? Does he realize that in 14 years he will have to share his bathroom with

that person????

I guess i should be brushing up on all things female these next few months since we are having a GIRL! The ultrasound looked great. All her parts were accounted for and looked good. How amazing it is to be able to see your growing childs internal organs and skeletal system.

Another amazing thing.....i gained 9 POUNDS in 6 WEEKS!!!! That is frightening. If any of you see me going for a second helping of anything or attempting to shovel goodies into my piehole please remind me i would like to gain less then i did with my first pregnancy. My lower back already is sore by days end. I need to step up the stepping.

So now i get to go thru all the wolverines old clothes and see what is usable. This poor girl is going to be wearing big brothers hand me downs. Im putting a call into the Wu Tang Clan. We need your second hand clothes.

The 20 yr reunion is 4 weeks away and i am so behind in planning. The scary thing is Im not really all that concerned. I think its just so many other things are occupying my brainspace right now, i just cant seem to put the reunion at the top of the priority pile. Hopefully it will magically happen.

The wolverines first roller coaster ride

Here they are at Kings Island this past August. It was all fun and laughs until this first "hill" and then he told Daddy "Dont want to do it again". I love seeing the "big kid" riding on the kiddie roller coaster....with hands above head. I wonder if he was taunting the children.

Friday Brain Candy

featuring Dolly Parton, the queen of country music and hero to countless drag queens and plastic surgeons alike.

"When my time comes, I hope I fall dead in the middle of the stage and I hope it's to a song I wrote".

We hope you do too Dolly. But not for a long, long time.

Belated Birthday Wishes to Big Sister

on her 40th birthday. Looks like she had fun. First with a family party. And then on to some adult fun with a trip on the "party bus" for 14 friends and then to the karaoke lounge. Im surprised....never pegged my sis for the karaoke type. Evidently, i was wrong.

WELCOME BABY SHOFNER

The world became a little brighter this morning at 5:37 am with the arrival of the Shofner baby. The family is resting and getting to know each other. We are so happy for them and send our love and prayers out their way.

We ate dinner with them last night, so it seems Melinda IS a wondermom after all. Perhaps it was my chili that did the trick.

Hope you guys enjoy this time together. We will see you soon. If you need anything we are here.

Politics, good marketing, & activism

So Saturday the wolverine and I attended the Nurse Out at Applebees on Nicholasville Road. Turn out was good, i would say over 100. And it was a blend of moms, dads, children, babies, grandmothers, and do-gooders. Im glad we participated. It didnt seem like much on our part but i think supporting a babies right to eat in public unimcumbered is a worthy cause.

It was HOT!!!! Did i mention that. We smeared on the sunscreen and the little guy ate snacks i had packed and drank water. He did great. We were able stay an hour before he hot antsy and wanted to walk around. By this point i was drained and needed to go anyway.

Nothing But Burgers showed their marketing savvy by bringing over ice water for everyone and offering FREE burgers to all involved. What genius. You wave some free food in front of pregnant and nursing women AND their hubbys and you have customers for life. There was no sign of Applebees or their corporate company......unbelievable. They blew a great opportunity to gain alot of loyal customers . All it would have taken was a public apology and an amending of their "policy" to offer blankets to nursing moms to cover up. If i were in charge i would be firing some PR people immediately.

So the wolverine got his first taste of activism. He kept saying "We went to the nurse out".....perhaps he will go on to follow his heart and help his fellow man.

Madeleine L'Engle dies.

One of my all time favorite authors for her trilogy of stories about Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and her boyfriend Calvin O'Keefe, has died. I read those books when i was young. Grade school on up into jr. high school. But i actually re-read the series this summer. I still loved them.

A Wrinkle in Time is her most famous book. Its one of those "classics" that won all the awards. Reading it again this summer made me realize that my fondness for cross genres started early on. A little adventure, a little sci-fi, some politics, religion, and then mix it in with a personal story. I guess i havent changed much in 37 years after all.

Good night Ms. L'Engle. Thanks for the stories.

http://www.awrinkleintime.net/

Breastfeeding News from the ignorant masses

Gwen Stefani revealed that she is still breastfeeding her son Kingston because she doesn't know when to stop. Kingston turned one year old in May.
Page Six reports:
I don't know when I'm going to stop breast-feeding...I'll just keep going while I can - like, he's getting his teeth, so it is a little bit scary. He's bitten me a few times."The last time I checked you were a millionaire, not a frontier settler, so now would probably be a good time to stop. Your kid isn't going to die of scurvy or starve because of the wily savages. In fact, he might walk to the refrigerator and get a juicebox and a Lunchable. In my experience, that's normally what people who can walk and have teeth do. "

Ah YES.....more ignorant comments from someone who knows nothing about nurturing your child. How witty of them. Lets take a celebrity and make fun of her for being a good mom. Way to turn another generation of young mothers off nursing.

The above image was in a local article entitled "Mom pushes breastfeeding on Applebees"





http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/161993.html





Yes people, just LOOK at how she is pushing. Sitting there, fully clothed, looking like she is simply holding her child. Its just scandulous. How dare she. What is the real scandal is some of the comments left on the Lexington Herald Leaders website. Im embarrassed to live somewhere that seems to be a haven for idiots.



I must be living in a cocoon. I am amazed at the ignorance and intolerance that surrounds me. Those of us who choose to breastfeed do so because we feel we are doing what is best for our children. Evidently, no one else cares. Or better, they only care that it interferes with their daily lives, or making a profit, or their ideas of what the breast should be used for.



So here are three seperate news pieces illustrating where our country and culture is at when it comes to breastfeeding. One celebrity, one Kentucky mother, and one ad campaign trying to make a difference.







Third the POLITICAL:





It may take a minute, but read the article and feel your pulse quicken. Another case of lobbyists screwing with public health issues.





Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy


Plans for HHS Campaign Highlighting Risks of Not Breast-Feeding 'Toned Down' After Meetings With Formula Makers, Washington Post Reports
[Aug 31, 2007]







An HHS campaign that aired advertisements promoting breast-feeding from 2003 to 2005 was "toned down" after formula industry representatives hired lobbyists to influence the department, the Washington Post reports.At the request of HHS' Office of Women's Health the not-for-profit Ad Council agreed to donate $30 million in air time for ads based off former Surgeon General David Satcher's 2000 report titled, "Blueprint for Action on Breast-feeding," according to the Post. The women's health office hired the ad agency McKinney + Silver to work with scientists from NIH, CDC and elsewhere on the campaign. After officials met with dozens of focus groups, they decided the most effective way to urge women to breast-feed was to "delineate in graphic terms the risks of not breast-feeding," the Post reports. One of the ads created for the campaign featured a nipple-tipped insulin bottle and said, "Babies who aren't breast-fed are 40% more likely to suffer Type 1 diabetes." According to the Post, some ads also featured photos of asthma inhalers topped with rubber nipples.According to the Post, the formula industry's involvement in the ad campaign is being "scrutinized" by Congress after Carmona's testimony last month at a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Kaufman/Lee, Washington Post, 8/31). Carmona said the Bush administration routinely blocked him from speaking out or issuing reports on human embryonic stem cell research, abstinence-only sex education, emergency contraception and other sensitive public health issues. He also said the administration often edited his speeches for politically controversial content and encouraged him to attend internal political meetings (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/16). The House government reform committee is investigating whether Carmona was barred from participating in the breast-feeding advocacy project and if people working on the campaign were overruled by superiors. "This is a credible allegation of political interference that might have had serious public health consequences," Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chair of the committee said.
Lobbying by Formula Industry The International Formula Counsel hired Clayton Yeutter -- former agriculture secretary and former chair of the Republican National Committee -- and Joseph Levitt, former director of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's food safety center, to arrange meetings with HHS, according to an IFC spokesperson. According to the Post, formula company officials also approached Carden Johnston, then president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Afterward, Johnston wrote a letter to then HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson stating that AAP had "some concerns about this negative approach and how it will be received by the general public." Lawrence Gartner, head of AAP's section on breast-feeding, wrote to Thompson saying that the 800 members of the section did not know about Johnston's letter and did not share his concerns.In a Feb. 17, 2004, letter to Thompson, Yeutter wrote that IFC wanted to meet with Thompson because the draft breast-feeding ad campaign was inappropriately "implying that mothers who use infant formula are placing their babies at risk," which could lead to class action lawsuits, the Post reports. Yeutter also wrote that McKinney + Silver might "well be correct" in concluding that a toned-down ad campaign would be less effective, but the campaign could give "guilty feelings" to the women who cannot or choose not to breast-feed. He asked, "Does the U.S. government really want to engage in an ad campaign that will magnify that guilt?" Yeutter lauded then HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Kevin Keane for making "helpful changes" to the ad campaign but asked that more be done. Yeutter two months later wrote to Thompson thanking him for meeting with a group that included Levitt and another official.
Change in Ad Campaign Gina Ciagne, the women's health office's public affairs specialist for the campaign, said, "We were ready to go with our risk-based campaign -- making breast-feeding a real public health issue, when the formula companies learned about it and came in to complain. Before long, we were told we had to water things down, get rid of the hard-hitting ads and generally make sure we didn't somehow offend." According to the Post, the campaign ran ads that showed images of dandelions and cherry-topped ice cream scoops to highlight how breast-feeding could help prevent respiratory conditions and obesity.Current and former HHS officials said Cristina Beato, then an acting assistant secretary at HHS, was key in changing the ads, telling associates to "be fair" to formula companies, the Post reports. Beato and Christina Pearson, an HHS press officer, also told then Surgeon General Richard Carmona that they did not want him involved in the campaign's launch or in promoting its themes, according to current and former agency officials. Beato and Pearson said they do not recall giving Carmona that advice.Beato said that complaints from formula companies did not play a role in her decisions, adding, "I brought together our top public health people to examine the health claims, and they examined the science and concluded what should be in and what should be out." Keane said, "We took heat from the formula industry, who didn't want to see a campaign like this. And we took some heat from the advocates who didn't think it was strong enough."A spokesperson for McKinney + Silver, which withdrew from the campaign after the changes were ordered, declined to comment, the Post reports.
AHRQ Document According to the HHS officials and documents, the department in April chose not to promote an analysis of breast-feeding studies conducted by its Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The report did not say if there is a direct cause and effect of breast-feeding but said it is associated with fewer ear and gastrointestinal infections, and lower rates of diabetes, leukemia, obesity, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. According to the Post, a top HHS official said Suzanne Haynes, a senior science adviser for the women's health office, called for the department to promote the report to the media and medical professionals. Current and former department officials said that Rebecca Ayer, HHS press officer, told Haynes and others in July that there should be "no media outreach" on the report. According to the Post, HHS and AHRQ sent out e-mail notices about the report, but it was "generally ignored" (Washington Post, 8/31).

Dominos

A good nap schedule can fall apart in a domino like effect. It just takes one day of mommy not being here to settle the wolverine in and BAM....day one....no nap until 6pm...which bleeds into nighttime which then bleeds into morning. We wake up late and BAM.....its almost 3pm and its looking like no nap again...or another late one. It just exhausts me.

I spend the better part of a week smoothing out the nap schedule getting it down to a nice system and then this happens. It seems to happen every week. Im so tired of it.

So now the wolverine is having "quiet time". That is where mommy puts the gate up so he cant leave his room and he is allowed to play by himself quietly in lieu of a nap. Its tantamount to mommy throwing in the towel.
Im also afraid that the closer we get to ending our beloved nursing , the closer we are to phasing out naps. I just dont know if the little guy can put himself to sleep for a nap. Rocking is nice, books are lovely, and he likes music, but for nap nothing taps the guy out like a little "nursey time".

Funny how they are always ending one stage and starting another. We have gone 3 nights without nursing at bedtime. That leaves us just with the nap nurse. We will see how it all pans out. He truly does shift from being my big boy one moment to being my needy toddler the next. Its so funny to see him develop and grow.

Im sure the true adventure begins when we throw another baby into this mix next year. Tim said today something to the effect of the next few years being grueling. Im sure in some ways that will be the case , but i think too they will be a fun time.

Welcome Xander

and congratulations to Erin, Mike and Addison. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you enjoy this special time together.

Alexander Lee Tuttle (aka Xander)Born July 31, 20077:23pm9 pounds, 5 ounces 20 inches long

Preteen Beauty Addicts

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=473376&in_page_id=1879



This article will make your skin crawl. Sometimes in trying to hard to please our children we arent doing them any favors in the long run. Thats a tough pill as a parent i think. I want my children to be happy, but also realize they want things sometimes that arent actually good for them.

I remember being so jealous when my older sister got her first pair of high heel shoes and thinking my mother was just so unfair for not allowing me to have them as well. I think i was probably 10.

Buffyverse

In honor of the August issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic coming out lets find out what character you would be.
Mine was a bit surprising to me i admit. I am not the heroine usually.

"You are Buffy! Strong, brave and extremely independent, Buffy has proven time after time that she will do whatever it takes to save what she has sworn to protect. The Chosen One is defiant and unwilling to give up even if the task ahead of her is perilous. "

http://www.quizilla.com/users/Aeralea/quizzes/Characters%20of%20Buffy%20the%20Vampire%20Slayer!/

Family Restrooms.....

This article appeared in a local paper where my parents live in TN. It spotlights some dear friends of theirs AND their obstacles in living somewhere with no family bathrooms in public facilities.

Im so glad Lex has them in the mall, but i want to see them in ALL public restrooms. Isnt it time we do this not only for the disabled and their families but those of us with small children???

Seems like common sense to me. As long as we are spending tax dollars like monopoly money, i for one would like to see something usable for a change.

ARTICLE LINK

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=5564

Sorry Susannah

I know im supposed to be keeping you up to date on all things Lexington while you are gone, but ive been slacking. Im tired, and cant eat enough at one sitting to feel good, and just plain yucky.

I did go see the hubbys show this weekend. I caught WORKING at the Studio Players on Saturday night and really enjoyed it. The show is fun and if your not careful you will catch yourself singing one of those darn tunes for days. Good work hubby. The man is a directing genius. He took a show i hate and changed the set up, gave it a cohesive feel, and BAM....its enjoyable. How does he do that????

Thumbs up for the new Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. The best of the series so far. Alan Richtman and Gary Oldman almost steal the movie. And when did Harry get so darn cute?

A lukewarm thumbs up for The Evening. Its predicatable, but i liked the themes. I think because i am getting older. I was the youngest person in the theater. What was your first mistake? How did it shape your choices? In the end does it really matter? Are there any American actresses besides Claire Danes that can hold their own besides their British and australian counterparts??

Discuss.

Fireworks Ad Nauseum

PEOPLE....LISTEN UP!!!!

Im as patriotic and fun spirited as the next person. On the Fourth of July i expect some BOOM, some BLAM, some KAPOW!!! What i do not expect is boom, blam, kapow for 7 nights straight. It is rude and annoying to live in a suburban neighborhood with people from 1 to 85 and have to put up with that for a week.

I can give you the night before the big event, the big event, and maybe the night after.....but SEVEN freaking nights and we are fried. Our 2 year old hasnt been to bed before 10 in a week and the cracks are showing.

Tonight my hubby was about to go to the neighbors and complain....but i intervened and went myself. *trying to prevent bloodshed*

So i walk down the street and very politely ask the people how much longer they think they will be.....that we havent been able to get our toddler down for a week due to fireworks. And they just looked at their watch and him hawed and said "uh...i dont know...maybe 20 more minutes"......no...oh im so sorry, or thanks for being so polite and neighborly about our disturbance. Nope. So i sighed....told them i would try to hold off my hubby for 20 minutes and walked back home.

So THAT is how it works. We now know who the rude neighbors are. And we are taking note. Tim took the wolverine for a drive to get him to sleep. And im still hearing fireworks. ILLEGAL fireworks i might add......yeah....in the city. So im giving them until 10 and then im calling the police. And i swear if i hear one more BOOM...BAM...or CRACK tomorrow night i am reigning down terror on them.

And i will reiterate, we are taking note of that house. We know who they are now. And we WILL NOT FORGET.

Baby blues, blahs, blechs.....

So i will admit i am about at my wits end. This time around, being pregnant has been not so fun. My morning sickness is all the time. I have pregnancy reflux...so anytime i eat it feels like it stays in my throat for hours. So i dont eat. And that makes the icky car sick feeling worse. Are you starting to get dizzy from my vicious cycle??!!

Im going to see the doctor today. To find out what i can take to relieve the reflux...or the yucks...and to make sure im not dehydrated. Im sure i am to some extent because my lips are cracked and i dont even get up at night to pee. Not a good sign.

So Ive missed 3 days in 3 weeks of work. So far, so bad.

The hubby i believe is about at his wits end as well. I dont guess he would say that, but he doesnt have to. He has never been good at hiding his feelings. And if this were reversed i imagine by now i would be tired of doing 98% of everything around the house and with the wolverine. Plus his show opens on the 12th. So we have high stress levels around our house.

Im not whining, im just worried. Im not one to give up alot of control easily, and with pregnancy you have no control really over your own body, emotions, etc. Im one big hormonal, chemical imbalance. I keep thinking i will have a breakthrough and be able to get it together.

I feel like im letting my family down. That is not a good feeling.

On the up side....this cant last forever, right?

Buffy the Fug

Its Independence Day SMG....Free yourself from grey satin shorts.

Courtesy of the fug girls.

Some Patriotic Trivia for the 4th.....

and yes im still just trying to get by. Hope you all have a Happy 4th.

1. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. However, it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941.

2. Fireworks were made in China as early as the 11th century. The Chinese used their pyrotechnic mixtures for war rockets and explosives.

5. Not all members of the Continental Congress supported a formal Declaration of Independence, but those who did were passionate about it. One representative rode 80 miles by horseback to reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of independence.

3. Uncle Sam was first popularized during the War of 1812, when the term appeared on supply containers. Believe it or not, the U. S. Congress didn't adopt him as a national symbol until 1961.

4. There are many precise rules for taking care of the American flag. And speaking of flag traditions, we're sorry to report that contrary to legend, historical research has failed to confirm that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag.

6. The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when, according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.

7. The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," is set to the tune of an English drinking song ("To Anacreon in Heaven").

8. The iron framework of the Statue of Liberty was devised by French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel*, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

9. The patriotic poem "America the Beautiful" was published on July 4, 1895 by Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates*.

10. Father of the country and architect of independence George Washington held his first public office at the tender age of 17. He continued in public service until his death in 1799.

A Major Confession of Upcoming Expectations

that almost sounded like a Jane Austen book , didnt it?

Well our little family has a major announcement. We have been keeping the lid on for the most part for awhile, but no more. We are pregnant, expecting our second child in February 2008. That is a whopper. We are excited to share the news, although i must confess i enjoyed keeping it under wraps. A pregnancy can get pretty long and we always find out really early, so a little private time is good.

So our household is pretty rocking right now. This time around my "morning sickness" is 24/7 and pretty rough. It seems i have traded the semi- nauseous , mind numbing fatigue of the wolverines pregnancy with the super yuck, always a moment away from a heave nastiness im experiencing this time out. Its been a rough several weeks. Each week i get a little worse and Tim gets a little more behind in his work. Its not easy having a partner that cannot stand to step into the kitchen, especially when your 2 1/2 year old really has to eat. Tims show opens in less then 3 weeks and he is having to juggle the play, the wolverine, and me.

Ive managed to get to work each morning, and found its actually easier to be sick at work then at home. Iknow...that is terrible. But i told them at work at least im not expected to do anything, outside of just sitting there and massaging patients.

On the up side, the wolverine has had a good week, which coincided with my worst week yet. That was nice. It makes it easier to feel bad when he is happy. that just sounds crazy doesnt it. But i guess we should get used to crazy.

We havent had a lot of time to sit around and think about how our lives will change and what it will be like. This is all about just getting thru the next few weeks. Maybe when i feel better i will be able to do that. but somehow i dont think you get that a second time. I think this pregnancy will go mostly unnoticed alot of the time, except for the occassional "wow im getting big", or "oh the baby kicked" or "oh my we are always going to be behind". Life marches on in this house now. A toddler demands it. And i think having been thru this before makes a difference.

The baby will be very welcome, very loved, and im sure totally its own personality. But this house has been there, done that......and we are ready to rock.

U.S Circumcision rates drop

http://kevxml.windstream.net/_1_KTBTO1044EKGTH__wind.main/apnws/story.htm?kcfg=apart&sin=D8PRD5BG0&qcat=USNews&ran=7073&feed=ap&


This very sensitive and personal issue is a no brainer to some and a confusing, emotional one for others. Im glad people are being more proactive in their decision making at the very least.

Never too young to jump into politics and let your voice be heard...

Here is my sister and her youngest at a political rally for John Edwards.

Our First Recall....

All you Thomas the train folks out there...listen up....there has been a recall.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07212.html



We have the red baggage car and the yellow sign. Great.

Summertime fun

For both of you that read this i apologize for the long break. Things get busy, i get tired, and i am unspired.

So taking a cue from the hubby, what are your top five favorite "Summertime" songs. You know, the songs that just remind you of summer, take you back to lightning bugs, lemonade, yard sales, beaches, cold beer, riding around, having not a care in the world.

*Van Halen- Panama
*The Sundays- Skin & Bones
*Bob Marley- Is This Love
*Seals & Croft- Summer Breeze
*Counting Crows- A Murder of One

June is Busting out all Over.......

This week has been a doozy for us. Mommy has been working full days and daddy has been promoted to double-shifts on the homefront. Its only for four days, but boy oh boy you would think it had been 3 weeks. We are all off our game and tired and cranky and so ready for it to be back to normal. NORMAL. What a funny word. Its something different for everyone.

For us, normal is lots of laughing and singing and playing with matchbox cars. Its a house that although low on clutter is always dirty. Walk barefoot on our floors or run your fingers across a dresser and you are sure to see the evidence of our normal. Its sticky fingers and yogurt smeared across the tummy giving a "massage" like mommy does. Normal is no clean underwear by wednesdays and 5 trips to Kroger every week. Its going to work for "time to myself" and allowing myself 5 minutes in the car in the parking lot to read the paper before i head home for mommy duty. Its seeing the man i love in passing or talking to him while we supervise the wolverine bouncing on the bed. Every third sentence is normally interrupted by the little guy checking in with "mommy?" Normal is always having bills to pay. Its wondering if the YMCA gives rebates for unused months. Its laying in bed and hearing not one, but two guys snoring.

So what is your normal????

Congratulations Honey...or thanks for keeping us out of the poor house...

Yes , we found out today that the hubby has been rehired after much hoop jumping and head scratching. We are thankful, we are relieved, and we are 3% wealthier. woohoo!!!!

Way to go Mr. Davis. On to the next worry......

Predictable

Oh the joys of the "nap schedule"....and i use that term loosely.

isnt it just like a child who hasnt gone down for a nap before 2 all week to fall asleep in your lap at 11:55 on the day you have a 12:30 lunch date planned with friends.

I swear i think he is looking at my calendar and taking his nap cues from it.


Sorry Susannah and Sophia we missed you.

Memorial Musings.....

Clean White Bean.....



Stories always sound better when read by Grandmother....

The secret to our relationship........

Home sweet home.......

We live in a tri-level house that is cool in the summer and toasty warm in the winter. We have clean, running water at our fingertips. We can cook at ease and refrigerate at will. I have a wonderful job where i help others, get paid well, and only work about 15-20 hours a week. The hubby *hopefully still* gets to work in a field he enjoys, that pays fairly well, and gives us medical and dental benefits. He can arrange his schedule to be able to spend alot of time with our child AND where we dont have to send the wolverine to daycare.



We go to the grocery store whenever we want and buy pretty much whatever we want. We have two cars and are able to fill up the tank *even though we moan and complain* whenever we need to. The three of us are healthy and if we werent our insurance would at the least make most illnesses affordable. We dont live in the swankiest neighborhood, but we are in a wonderful school district. Our house isnt the nicest decorated, but everyone has a bed, bath, and beyond. Our clothes wont turn heads most days, but we are covered and sometimes stylish.



If we wanted to get in the car or on a plane and travel we could without too much hassle...although the cost can be alot....we can still get around. We enjoy time with friends and go visit family on occassion. All this with no hassle. *Unless you count family in general as a hassle. ha!



We can vote. We can speak our minds. We can do pretty much whatever we want unless its illegal or harmful to someone else.



We can pray or worship if we choose, who we choose, when we choose, how we choose....or not.



The place i live is pretty alright. Even with all her faults, i appreciate the good and the advantages i was born into. But i realize down thru the ages alot of people have laid down there lives for this place...some willing and some not. People before me have not just espoused rhetoric....not just talked platitudes.....some people down the line have gotten their hands dirty to build something. And now here we are.



On Memorial Day i think about that. I think about not just those that have served in the Military, although their deeds arent forgotten. I think about the regular people who for whatever reason found themselves in a position to make a difference and they did. I remember all the people who have contributed to this place i call my home. And i wonder to myself if when my time comes to make a difference i will have the courage and wisdom to do so. To do my part in helping continue building the United States of America.

Sunday Fun....You Are Invited

Hey for any of you not already booked, obligated, or on the road........

THIS SUNDAY AT OUR HOUSE at 4:00 p.m
We will be doing burgers (beef and turkey) and your all welcome. Just bring a dish and yourselves and a festive spirit.

We will have the kiddie pool filled for the kiddies so bring swimsuits Or at the very least a swimdiaper....although i have been shamed in the past for letting my son venture out into the water with only a diaper on.

Its a FREE for ALL .....isnt that what Memorial Day is all about???

Since i dont know if Melinda has watched it yet

i wont give any spoilers away to the season finale of Lost.

After sitting thru the first 45 minutes it finally kicked into overdrive and had some fun. They have turned it around now to start the slow walk home over the next 3 seasons. Should be interesting.

I do have few things that bugged me about the finale but i will keep quiet for now.

Playtime with friends

A friendly game of checkers with Noah.

The boys riding horses at the Explorium

A game of bball with Daddy and Owen, while Noah works on his soccer skills. I think someone might want to bring that goal up a foot or so to make it an even game.

The boys and THE BOYS. Notice THE BOYS have color coordinated to avoid having to subject the boys to "shirts and skins".

The haircut....or what Rapunzel does on the weekends

So for quite awhile now i have had long hair. When i got pregnant with the wolverine it really grew like a weed, what with all those pregnancy hormones surging thru me. And i was happy just to let it grow. Since he has been born most days the hair goes up. Between mothering and work my hair usually didnt get to bask in its full glory more then once a week. And even then i had no time to do much more then wash and go. So its been ponytails and badly shaped buns for mommy for over 2 years.

Last summer my niece donated her hair to Locks of Love and it got me to thinking. I decided i would grow my hair "super" long and then cut and donate it too. Although i was feeling generous of spirit, my vanity prevented me from cutting it right away. I was not going to go "short", even for charity. I had to at least have shoulder length hair. So i waited....and waited....each visit to my hairdresser we got the ruler out and measured and she would show me where the cut off would be.....you have to have 10 inches to donate.

Well it finally happened and we ended up taking off 12 inches. Its taking some getting used to. I still prefer long hair, but its not so bad. I do have to actually use a hairdryer and "product" in my hair now...unless i want it to be wild. But sacrifices must be made.

The upside now is that i can wear my hair down without the wolverine saying "Mommy pull your hair up". That has been nice.
Before-

After-


The wonderful thing about hair is.....that is always can grow back. At least for me. The organization i chose to donate my hair to makes wigs for children who dont grow hair or have lost all their hair due to chemo treatments for illnesses . I liked http://www.wigsforkids.org/because they donate their wigs to the families instead of making them pay for the wigs which several of the other organizations do.

I figure i will do this again as soon as my hair grows back out. Any of you care to join me???

Spring Flashback

This is the wolverine at his very first baseball game. He was intrigued at the guy throwing the ball. He was thrilled they had a playground and a carousel. And while he people watched , Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the REAL reason people go to ballgames......the snacks. Is it just me or do the big pretzels just taste better at these places. It almost makes paying $4 for one not hurt so much.

Just one more reason to love Henry Rollins

http://www.glumbert.com/media/walmart


You just have to appreciate a man who spans the generations with Black Flagg, The Rollins Band, spoken word, and now this, his own take on Wal-mart, the devil .

Dazed and Confused

Im knee deep in my high school flashback this week. Ever since i volunteered for coordinating our 20th reunion ive been getting emails from old classmates...even spoken with a couple on the phone and its weird. Seeing their names, seeing pictures of their children, hearing their voices.

It takes you back people.....waaaaay back. And it makes you realize how oblivious you were in your formative years. Most of these people.....really all of these people, are unknown to me. I have collective memories with them, but nothing else. Its a thin connection to your childhood, most of which i cant even remember. Seems kind of sad when you think about it too much. Perhaps looking back makes you appreciate being in the present a little more. It also makes you realize that once a moment has passed IT IS GONE. You cant get it back....not even a photo can capture it.

That being said, those years in West TN im sure were influential in making me into who i am today. And also responsible for alot of much needed therapy......HA!

I figure it will be a hoot though. Reliving or remembering over a cocktail or two.

Brush your teeth, everyday, round and round, prevents tooth decay

..thats our little toothbrushing ditty we sing at night. Followed by a round of "GET OUT OF OUR MOUTHS CAVITIES....we dont want you !!"

We are trying desperately to teach the wolverine good dental hygiene. But as most of you know, brushing a toddlers teeth is like herding wild cats....slow, frustrating, and sometimes painful.

We have had some success lately by letting him hold the shampoo bottle while we brush his teeth. For some reason he is more willing to open up and let us brush if he gets to play with something he usually cant touch. go figure!!!

Anyway....how do you guys do it?? Any foolproof methods. And dont even get me started on flossing!!!!!! ha!

Luckily we dont give the wolverine sugar so that helps. If you dont know....let me be the one to tell you...SUGAR is the cause of cavities. Thats right people....knock out sugar out of your diet and youve fought like 95% of the battle.

No 20 year class reunion....

that is what i learned on classmates.com . The group that planned the 10 yr. has decided they cant do the 20th. I understand and respect that, however it would have been nice to get a heads up like.......6 months ago. Its the end of April....in the year the "event" would take place.
Wow.

So i may jump in and try to throw together something. Am i insane i ask? yes.
I watced my sister plan her class reunion 2 years ago. I remember the headaches, the deadlines, the classmates that ignored deadlines and pleas for rsvp's and money and then called at the last minute wanting to come. Its alot of pressure ESPECIALLY when you dont live anywhere near the city or state you graduated in. And even MORE when you havent spoken to most of the people you went to school with in 10 or 20 years. I dont exactly do alot of "keeping up" with my chums from my youth. The one person i do keep up with i havent talked to in almost 2 years. yeah.....im the one you want in charge of putting together a reunion.

But still, a part of me thinks it would be worth the challenge .....to get an opportunity to look back a bit.

Maybe i am insane. This year is a biggie for us. Our first year in this house. The hubby is up for review in the next couple of months and we will find out if all his hard work is going to pay off with a littl stability. The wolverine is at "that age" and really needs alot of time and attention and patience. I am at a crossroads career wise AND then there is the possibility we may add to our family. And then there is that pesky IRS bill that we will spend most of the summer paying off. Plus my dad retires in like 2 days. (this has nothing to do with our big year but i thought i would give a shout out to him).


So planning a reunion would be an additional pain and strain on my rump.

And yet, im still sitting here contemplating doing it.

Drove

Multiple sources are confirming that Fox's new series starring Ex-Firefly hunk, Nathan Fillian, has been canned after just 3 short weeks. Im bummed. We kinda liked it. It was a Tim Minear produced show....another ex-Whedonverse guy. These guys cant catch a break. Minear had another short lived Fox show last year, Wonderfalls.

I think i would go to work with a different network.

Fox stinks. If its not Idol, or 24, or House....or some awful reality show.....they can it.

I love a good serialized genre show. I like a running thread that builds and culminates in a great season finale. I love getting involved in a good character and good storytelling. I like shows that have kick butt ensembles. That combine drama and humor. And i am willing to follow a show 5 or 6 or 7 seasons. If it is worth it. Few are. And even fewer are being given the chance to prove that they are.

Hats off to Minear and team Fillian.

We hardly knew ye.

Head check

The third leading cause of death in the U.S. is a stroke.
Strokes are the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

My parents 58 yr old friend had a stroke this year.
My 92 year old grandmother just had another stroke.


I worked on a patient this morning who has no left leg, only 1/4 of his right leg, and is blind.
He was a seeing, fully mobile man until earlier this year when he was hit by a dragster on the Texas highway going 200 something miles an hour.



The science of consciousness is a growing field. They are now saying that the "I" voice your hear inside your head isnt really "I", its just the thought that takes the forefront for that moment. I wont bore you with the details. However, scientists are quick to point out that this somehow disproves the existence of the soul. That somehow if we can find a spot in the brain that every function, thought, feeling and movement was originated that means we are souless. because if our consciousness is IN our brain then without that we are nothing.

Hmmmm.

I never have really thought much about the whereabouts of my soul. I dont think it resides somewhere specific. I see it more as energy permeating space. Not some actual form. So to the scientists i say, keep studying consciousness but dont rain on my soul parade.

80's Duo have all the answers

This is FOR REAL!!!!

"OK, TV fans -- here's your chance to ask '80s teen heartthrobs Corey Haim and Corey Feldman anything! They return to the tube this summer with a new reality series on A&E, but they will also be guest columnists on MSN, and you can ask them anything. Seriously. Got a question about your relationship? Ask them. Need advice on breaking into the acting biz? Ask away. Want to know what it was like to work with Kiefer Sutherland? Ask them, already! The best questions will be featured in the column and answered personally by each Corey. So, go ahead, Corey-maniacs, ask away: askcorey@microsoft.com"

Happy Birthday Noah !!!!!!!!

We are so glad Melinda pushed you into the world Noah. Our lives have definitely been fuller for it.

Now lets go to VEGAS!!!!!!!

It is television night

and now we just have to wait for the wolverine to go to sleep.

We celebrated being so in debt by going to El Toro and eating a big meal with MAGUERITAS AND DESSERT!!!!

Take that Uncle Sam!!! You cant keep us down. You may smack us around but we will never be your *%&***!!!

And the total is

$7971.00!!!!!!!!

You Have Been Warned........

June 29 in Cincinnati .............

This band is coming to rock your mommys world.

You can either be a part or get out of the way.

Once upon a time

every botoxed, restylned, nose jobed, wacky plastic faced aging starlet was America's sweetheart. Instead of aging gracefully and naturally and with a little dignity they choose to be part of the growing problem in our country. No one wants to look their age. Heck, no one in Hollywood even wants to look like themselves evidently.

Case in point.







Meg Ryan. She was once, you got it, America's Sweetheart........Remember........(dont look up, just focus on this cute, sweet , lovely woman underneath us.

She was the girl next door, the best friend, the one all the good men ended up with. She had spunk and sass.
And throughout most of the 90s she had her own face.....and a few lines creeping in even.....
But then it started. Her lips started getting a little fuller and uneven.
The lines started smoothing out. She got a lot paler. Her eyes started looking "odd". And her nose thinned out, filled back in, and then settled on this.

Im not sure how much of Meg Ryans real face is actually left here. It seems around the early 2000s she was the recepient of some very unfortunate plastic surgery. My question is WHY??!!! Who told this woman she needed a nip/tuck??!!! And who was responsible for the less then fabulous end results?? I mean its no Kenny Rogers hack job, but its not good.

Cant we all just be O.K. with aging. I would have been alright Meg , watching you gracefully wrinkle and dimple and crease onscreen over the next 20 years.