Flashback

So the hubby found some old photos of himself back in the 80s.

This one is circa 1988...he was in a production of HAIR at our undergrad school MTSU. I SAW that production and actually remember seeing him....who could forget all that awesome black hair and shaggy beard??? This was FOUR years before we would meet however. He kind of has a Jeff Bridges circa King Kong era look.


This next one just confirms that he has never had a keen eye for fashion. Not even in a decade known for its terrible clothes. It appears he is sporting a RAYON patterned jacket. The half hearted mullet and scraggy beard accent the wonderful LOAFERS he has chosen to compliment the outfit. Nice one honey. I dont know what year this is....maybe late 80s?

I guess it was fate we didnt meet until 1992, although we traveled in rather close circles. We even realized that we had attended the same party but were there at different times. When i see the above photo i know why now. Of course i believe 1988 was the year i was wearing cut off jean shorts with black tights and black boots topped off with oversized sweaters.

Parent Training

Ah the joys of potty training. I had hoped if we put it off long enough perhaps the wolverine would just start using it by himself without all the weeks, months of peeing and pooping everywhere....struggling to get diapers or undies off and on....all those things. But evidently some effort on my part is going to be neccessary since he needs to be all systems go by September so he can go to the nursery school co-op.

So here we are. We are using the potty chart for encouragement and he gets to do something special after 25 stickers. He chose bowling. He got 3 stickers yesterday and one so far today. No wet diapers or poopers so far. And how is that you ask? Well he has peed at the kitchen table, in our bed and in the tub. He took a dump on his own bed. That one was especially nice for me...since Tim was gone to rehearsal and The Bunny was being cranky and wanting to nurse at the time.

Today he was naked until lunchtime when he peed at the kitchen table.

It seems my entire house is now a litter box for a 3 year old.

Im hoping by Monday things will be going well.....we will see. Im good as long as poop isnt flung everywhere and as long as he keeps his appendages out of the toilet.

Bitchin' Camaro, Bitchin' Camaro....

Heads up to all you former mullet wearing, members only jacket sporting , Foreigner blasting 80s boys...chevy is bringing back the Camaro in 2010. So mark your calendars and start saving your pennies.....i can almost hear Lou Gramm singing "Urgent...." as i sit hear.

Here is a link to the details...http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=12&article_id=6814

Kentucky speaks but no one listens....

not even our own officials. With a resounding win by Hillary, our state pledged delegates went with Obama. I believe several of our "superdelegates"(and i use that term loosely) did as well. Regardless of which candidate had won, i take issue with KY Democrat officials who vote in direct opposition to the voice of their constituents. Shame on you all.

I also take issue with the newsmedia that continues to report that the only people in KY voting for Clinton are the uneducated, blue collar ones.....that would be code for poor, racist hicks by the way. Im amazed at the how the media has continually tried to dictate the outcome of this race. And they have done an amazing job of it, from the virtual media blackout of the Edwards campaign to the softballing of Obama, and the painting of a faulty picture that somehow Obama has been the strong frontrunner even though he failed to win PA, OH, WVA, KY to name a few. This contest has been CLOSE the whole way and it is evident that the party is split between two candidates. I think they should run on the same ticket HOWEVER the newsmedia has a different opinion.....they started as early as last week saying how Clinton on the Obama ticket weakens him. I cant imagine how pairing up with someone who has about 50% of the Democratic parties support weakens you. Whatever........they just dont want her on that ticket. Man, those Clintons must really be hated by the party they helped rebuild to get this treatment.

Dont even get me started on the "woman" thing. Perhaps my daughter will have a chance at being the FIRST female president after all......

Oh Dear......

So the wolverine has had some poop issues the last two days....as in...whoa nelly!! what a lot of poop......he hasnt quite been himself. Now the hubby is saying a little Whoa Nelly!! himself. And NOW, im starting to feel not so right...like the burp that tastes blech...and a little , dare i say it, pre-pukey watery mouth feeling. I hope im wrong, or this week is going to start out with a bang.

Tim if your reading this, come home ASAP!!!!!!

Meme for Maria

Outside My Window … darkness falls and a dog is barking
I am thinking … i want that dog to shut up!!!!
I am thankful for … the bunnys' breath against my cheek, her sleeping body in my arms
From the kitchen …its stocked full and yet we still ended up at Puccinis for dinner tonight
I am wearing …cut up stayfree pads in my bra because all my breast pads are in the wash and i am always leaking milk.
I am creating …an environment that is livable.
I am going …to use my YMCA membership again before i turn 65!!!
I am reading …oh i try.....The Theophastic Prayer..one from a friend that i have barely opened, the sunday newspaper, well a few sections.
I am hoping … that my children grow up happy and healthy and competent in spite of my parenting.
i am hearing …the wolverine singing in bed with daddy trying to get him to sleep, the song..."im a little striped skunk"
Around the house … dirty clothes, dirty diapers.....you people have NO idea how we really live here.
One of my favorite things … kissing the bunnys' head and snuggly wugglys with the wolverine. Date night at the movie tavern.....hey it happened once it can happen again.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week....early rising, TCB

Teaching the little ones about the democratic process....

The kids after a long afternoon of democracy in action.

Nothing says good time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon like a political rally. It was my first time on such an adventure. We decided to drive to Frankfurt and meet the "Broad" up close and personal. We arrived around 2 and let the wolverine run around on the KSU campus while the bunny nursed. Then we were all ushered through the metal detectors and into the gymnasium. I had the bunny in the front pack bobbing her around down towards the front of the podium.

I hadnt been there more then 3 minutes when a woman in a suit came up and commented on how pretty the bunny was...and then asked how old she was...and then "are you going to be comfortable standing up the whole time? would you like to sit over here? "and she escorted us right behind the podium on the stage. Evidently we were part of the demographic they wanted peeking out from behind Sen. Clinton when on camera. I went and got the hubby and the wolverine.

It was fun. I nursed the bunny ......had to do my part to support breastfeeding in public....but i did it before CNN and company had cameras rolling. Unfortunately we had to wait a long time so by the time Hil-ah-ree arrived the wolverine had about had enough. He got thru about half her speech before announcing loudly and repeatedly that "i DONT want to be here anymore" so Tim took him off the stage and to the side where the wolverine started SINGING. Needless to say they left the building before the secret service could apprehend them.

Meanwhile after Mrs.C finished her speech me and the bunny walked down and met her. She smiled and i said perhaps one day the bunny would follow in her footsteps, she said bunny was beautiful , asked what her name was. I said "Vivienne Hope" then said "and we hope....." and she gave me a knowing smile and nod. I said "god bless you" and she was on to the next person. It was one of those cliched political moments im sure, but it was being a part of history and one day i can tell the bunny she met the first woman to win presidential delegates and a former first lady.

Every day is Mothers Day

when you have children. There isnt a day that has gone by since the birth of the Wolverine and now the bunny that i havent thought about how wonderfully blessed we are to have these two in our lives. Im as imperfect as they come and yet these two human beings began their journey in this world inside of me. There is nothing i could give them that even compares to the honor and privelege it is to love and care for them. They have helped me to see a part of myself i didnt know existed and the love i feel for them is the most real thing i have ever experienced. They make us live in the moment and cherish each and everyone. Thank God for our children. (and the hubby who did his part too....)

Happy Mothers Day to all you mommys out there that make my life a little more fun and who share in this love that i call my children.

Friday Cluster *********

So Fridays is my long day. No work, just kiddies. And although i cherish my long day with the kiddos, waking up without having to rush and get out the door.....it does drive me nuts when they dont sync up at naptime. Usually the wolverine is the one who sleeps while the bunny wakes up and wants to hang out and nurse....that i can handle. The bunny rarely gets one on one alone time with me unless it is after hours. but today its the wolverine who is screwing up naptime. And by screwing up i mean he isnt taking one.

So i have sent him up to his room for "quiet time"......this is not working out either....ha! It becomes an annoying showdown. I just dont enjoy this part of mothering.

The bunnies first date

Watch how Coleman uses the drive by technique to try and impress the Bunny. Chicks dig a guy with his own wheels....

He has quite a sense of confidence for someone so young.
Watch him swagger as he tries to make a connection.
He is working the pick up hard. And does all his hard work pay off?
Oh yes........................
The Bunny likes him.

Flashback......

This was our first and only big snow this year. The baby had only been here a few weeks. It was close to easter. The wolverine had a blast playing in the snow. He particularly like plunging face first into the snow. He and I ran around the back yard while daddy watched the baby. Afterwards he had his first taste of hot chocolate. Did he like it???? Well, what do you think?



I think that smile says it all.

Yes im way behind on getting pictures out. Digital is supposed to make it easier but i end up taking even longer to send pix out.

4th of July

is now either Doomsday or truly independence day for me this year. I have decided along with a coworker of mine to run the Bluegrass 10,000 . Its a 10K which is way farther then i have ever run. And i have never even run in a race. My running years took place on a nice, cushioned trademill where i would do at most 3 miles faithfully. But these last few years have been the babymaking years...not the working out years. I am sorely out of shape. I dont even know at this point if my body CAN run at all, let alone a 10 K.

But having another person to push me hopefully will motivate me. Maria finished her half marathon last week so that is another inspiration. Plus there is the promise of a meal at Alfalfas after the race which makes it more compelling to finish......buckwheat blueberry pancakes, cheese grits, eggs, bacon, maple syrup, cinnamon coffee all guilt free. That may be enough to get me to the finish line.

Of course my post partem body needs major conditioning and i may have to have my insides tacked up to be able to even run without wearing a Depends. Dont even get me started on running with these breastfeeding porn star sized boobs. There are so many obstacles....time constraints on training with a newborn. I dont know where and when to start...oh my....i may be in over my head.

Anyone else up for the challenge?????

I am no fan of Rush Limbaugh...

or that entire sector of "newsmedia" whose job it is to stir up hoopla for a certain segment of the population to fret and fear over. But this quote by him concerning Hillary Clinton and her supporters just floored me.

"You have to understand the mindset of a lot of these feminists and women...These women have paid their dues. They've been married two or three times; they've had two or three abortions; they've done everything that feminism asked them to do. They have cut men out of their lives; they have devoted themselves to causes and careers. And this — the candidacy of Hillary Clinton — is the culmination of all of these women's efforts."

It is just so hateful and awful....i am amazed that someone can say things like this in a public forum. Interesting that he seems to think the only women voting for Hillary are old school feminists. The polls certainly wouldnt agree with that assumption...nor would the percentages previously shown in the states who have already voted....she seems to do a bang up job with white men in particuliar.......

I havent decided who i am voting for in the presidential election yet, but I swear statements like this could make me inch a bit closer to Hillary. And she is someone i never thought i would be thinking about voting for.

Two Nannies

http://jezebel.com/382304/the-management-perils-of-having-two-or-more-nannies

This just makes me sick. Or maybe i just wish i had someone who would make me crepes in the morning. I cant imagine the world these people live in.......having not one, but two nannies. What is the point of having children if you arent present when they are growing up?

I know its spring

in Lexington because the hubby has red eyes, sneezes constantly, and i find kleenex in every pocket and all over the house. Even taking Allegra doesnt give him enough relief. So we were thrilled to find out that Lexington was voted the #1 City in the nation for allergies.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/08/health-allergies-pollen-forbeslife-cx_avd_0408health_slide_26.html?thisSpeed=15000

Now if that isnt reason enough to live here i dont know what is.

Production Week

I hate production weeks. Those are when the hubby has a show opening and they do all the techie stuff and runs. The nights go LOOOOOONG and he runs around all week in a panic trying to get everything done. But this week is especially hard because its so darn beautiful outside. I see families walking by in the evening and just sigh. Dinner seems a waste since its just me and the wolverine and he hasnt been eating much lately at night. Im a theatre widow....always have been , always will be. Its just our way of life. Now that we have small children though its something i no longer enjoy. Pre-kids, production weeks were like a nice dose of "me time"...HA...funny how things change.

I missed Susannahs call today and didnt get her message until afternoon, so we missed a chance to go to the park and picnic with her and sofia.....thats a downer. The wolverine is in deperate need of socializing. Lately he has started to really show the effects of baby sister entering his world. He always asks for "mommy"...as in..."I want mommy to read to me and daddy to hold baby sister"...or "i want to sleep with mommy in the guest room and daddy to take Vivi". There has been alot of that talk.

Today baby girl was sleeping in my arms and the wolverine was sleeping with his head laying on my lap....it was quite a sweet scene.

Charles Heston died yesterday.

Our basement flooded...AGAIN....on friday.

Ive been on a taco run the last two weeks.....the hubby and I have been making some kick ass tacos and enjoying them SO much......its a rip off of the Macho Taco we love so much at the Taco Sombrero down on the coast where we used to live.

Take a flour tortilla and smear it with refried beans, cheese, taco sauce, sour cream....then wrap it around a corn tortilla filled with ground seasoned turkey, lettuce, cheese, and salsa and pair it with an ice cold Killians. Youve got yourself one delicious spring meal. Dont worry about side dishes......its a meal in one....the Killians is your "side". Just make sure and give the kiddos a glass of milk.

Battlestar Galactica premiered friday night and we were so happy. I love that show. The season opener was solid....not a premiere stand alone...but an episode to set the stage for the season ahead. What are they doing with Lee? Who is Starbuck? Who is the fifth? Whats with the flip flop of Laura and Gauis. She was the one with all the faith and following the signs....he the man of science.....now he seems to be the big Jesus metaphor and she is refusing to follow anyones signs but her own.

We finished up with season 3 of Boston Legal and i am going to miss my dose of Denny Crane, Jerry Espenson, Clarence/Clarisse/Clavant, Shirely and of course Alan Shore . They better put out season 4 this summer. I just love this show.....it cracks me up. The teaming of the brilliant but asperger suffering Jerry and the emotionally crippled multiple personalitied Clarence has been the BEST.

If anyone wants to go see Tims play with me Friday night let me know. Could be fun. I will be nursing at intermission i am sure.

March Fuggin' Madness

Ok.....everyone MUST participate....its just too much fun....much more interesting then those "other" brackets the hubby is obsessing over this week.

Join me...


http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/

LOST

Yes, on occassion i get to watch an episode of TV. Tonights Lost episode was solid, wrapping up a stellar season so far. A writers strike sure would have helped seasons 2 and 3. Even though new questions pop up, others are being answered and with an end date in sight, it gives me hope that at the end of LOST i wont be feeling lost....like i was with X-Files.

I think the Desmond storyline is the heart of the show. His journey seems the most interesting and integral to the shows resolution. Also, it doesnt hurt that he is hot. I joked last week about the extended scene with "two hot, sweaty, foreign guys with accents" One with shirt unbuttoned, the other in a tank top. It seems the writers know how to keep their fans happy.

Oh...and Tom is gay. How great. M.C. Gainey can play just about anything ive decided. And he is a U.S.M. alumni.....where they hubby got his grad degree from. We met him at the last reunion.

Post Partum

Well its been one month, 4 days and very little sleep since the big arrival. (serial comma just for you Hope) Its been quite a ride. Most of you read the play by play of our little ones arrival at my sisters blog http://hopesays.wordpress.com/

Im too tired to add anything to that. Im not here to recount the day....that i will do later. Today is about catch up. My babymoon period is much shorter the second time around. I knew it would be, but what i didnt know is how different i would feel this time around. Im less in the blackhole of babydom. That seems like a luxury now. Parenting two children is a circus act. I feel less like the tight rope walker juggling and more like the clown.

So a few things.

If your ever a guest for dinner and pasta is being served always bring a bottle of wine. Then when the happy hosting couple drink a few glasses , get frisky later after everyone has gone home and domestic bliss is retained YOU can take the credit and get the thanks.

This sounds fun for the kiddies.

Saturday, April 26- The Truck Stops Here Fundraiser. At this event kids will get to "check out" vehicles they may not normally get to see such as fire trucks, fancy cars, UPS trucks, & ambulances. It will be held in the Beaumont Kroger parking lot (the "extra" section to the right of the strip mall). Admission is $3.00 per child only (adults are admitted free). It will be from 10-1.


I want to thank all of you who have helped us these last few weeks. Food has been brought, hand me downs have been given, and socializing and support have been great. We appreciate it all SO much. We have some really great friends and SUPER family. We couldnt have gotten through the last month without you all. What a blessing and how dear you all are to us.

Fetal Stress, Membrane Stripping, and Induction...

OH MY!!!!!!!

So today our dr visit was a doozie! The babys ultrasound didnt go that great. Her movements werent happening. Her heart arythmia was more sporadic. Basically they didnt like what they werent seeing and were hearing. So at 41 weeks and a day......when you say to a dr. "tell it to me like it is"....they say...."have the baby...now". Tomorrow morning we are set to go in and do just that. IM not a fan of induction and im a bit torn on all this. However, this is where being informed and using a nurse mid wife you trust comes into play.
Dr Green said he stripped my membranes when he checked me. We left without seeing our CNM so she called me later asking how i was doing. After our conversation she deduced he hadnt stripped my membranes and told me to meet her at the office ...after hours mind you.

She stripped them FOR REAL.....and gave me homework. Rocking on hands and knees, castor oil, sex, nipple stimulation. All the oldies but goodies. She feels since i am already at about 3 or 4 that chances are good we can do this thing with little or no pit. She gave me hope. I love her for that. So we are going to do our darndest to get the party going. And we will let you all know how things are going.

Pray if you pray, hope if you hope, wish if you wish, meditate, vibrate....whatever you do...do it for us.