Brain Bursting on Blog

Just an FYI: if you are coming to see my house and only gave me 10 minutes notice, do not open the dryer because inside you will find Matt's gym bag, clothes, Lane's trucks, a basket of suckers, a box of Macaroni Kid pencils...among other things.

Just an FYI: if you are coming to see my house and only gave me 10 minutes notice, you better be buying my frickin' house because it takes us longer than 10 minutes just to get out of the house and that doesn't leave much time for throwing everything in the dryer and sweeping up the dog hair.

Just an FYI: this is for you blond, skinny, lady getting into the cute red convertible parked in the front row at the gym. I mean really? Couldn't you save that spot for some poor soul like myself...with a car seat to lug and a toddler hanging on my yoga pants and a diaper bag strewn over my shoulder with random things falling out of it. Really? All you have is your tiny 100lb frame to carry and your blond ponytail and next time I would appreciate if you left that spot for me.

Just an FYI: Not only did I not feed my baby properly. (See previous post) BUT I had her in her car seat for most of the morning today and part of the afternoon and when I finally took her out (after dropping Lane off at school, running to the gym, to the bank, to the monogram shop, picking Lane up, cleaning the house throwing everything into the dryer to make the house look clean, going to Chick fil A for lunch to pass time while someone looked at my house) realized she was up to her neck (almost literally) in poop. No wonder she was crying at times. I'd be crying too if I had poop half way up my chest.

Just an FYI: I nursed her all afternoon and held her on my chest while she drifted in and out of sleep just to make up for the car seat fiasco. Case in point: She looks content, no?

Just an FYI: Lane thinks Daddy's blue car belongs to him and I captured his excitement on my phone a few weeks ago when they took it for a ride for the first time this season.

Just an FYI: I don't mind spending my evenings like this:

Just an FYI: February has been my biggest Macaroni month to date. Every other month a few hundred dollars would trickle in here and there, but I was also spending money on supplies for events, etc. But this month has been so incredibly awesome for me and I hope it just keeps getting better! I can like make the car payment and mortgage payment and buy the groceries. (That probably sounds petty to some of you who make enough to make those payments each month, but this is something I have built from the ground up and I am proud!) Woohoo! I am Macaroni Momma, hear me roar! Just a few more subscribers and I will have reached 1000!!!

Just an FYI: I thinks that's all for now. I have baths to give before we look at houses this evening. We're back on the hunt. 

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Brain bursting on blog

We ate dinner so late last night that it was a good thing it was a frittata and kind of doubled as dinner and breakfast. I had a hair appointment and that pushed our whole evening out of whack. Matt fed Lane earlier thank goodness. Pre-Parker, we used to be all about eating together as a family, but now Matt and I take dinner as an opportunity to re-connect from the chaos of the day so we usually feed Lane earlier and wait until BOTH kids are sleeping to enjoy our dinner date.

Lane decided he wanted to go to bed with a tractor that has a remote control. He picks the weirdest things to snuggle with. I was uneasy because the remote control was connected by a wire. I tried to sneak it out of his bed before I went downstairs, but he caught me. I went up sometime later. Looked at him and was sure he was totally asleep. I even put my face in front of his and nothing. As soon as I reached my hand over the railing of his crib, he sat straight up and said "No, dat's mine!" About 10 minutes later, I went up to check on him and he was laying flat on his back reading a book. Hah! The kid cracks me up! This was 9:45 mind you. I think he has night owl tendencies like his Daddy.

Lane missed 2 weeks of school when we were in IL and this past Monday when we were finally back home in SC he told me he wanted to go to school. I was worried how transitioning back would go, but apparently it was no big deal. Lane sat behind my table for Macaroni Kid this past weekend and said "Go round dere, momma." So I went to the front of the table. Then he said, "Here, you want a pencil to draw?" I think that was his way of asking me to subscribe. Do you think he's been to enough events with me?!

In the past week we have booked 2 vacations and I am so excited. In August we are going to Siesta Key and September we are going to Folly Beach. It happens to land over Park's b-day so she'll be celebrating on the beach just like her big brother did.  I'm still going strong with my running and plan to run a 10K in Charleston at the beginning of April. I STILL have to do my truth and lies post...I promise Jackie, I'll do it! And today we spent the whole morning and part of the afternoon outside downtown. It was awesome! Post to follow!

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I am guilty

of dropping Lane off at school and at least once a week, coming home, plopping myself in my rocking chair with my baby girl and kissing her fat little cheeks until she cries in annoyance.

of staring at her, taking in her every attribute. Her eyes, (seriously have you seen bigger eyes?), her hair, (that looks reddish blond in certain lights), her cute little pointy nose, (it's unlike mine or Lane's...it's all her own)

of smiling at the sound of Lane in public: "Look, momma, it's the number six" (on one of the doors we walked by while delivering meals on wheels) "Look, momma, it's the letter L"

of wondering where and when he learned to recognize those numbers and letters.

of waking up every morning that Matt was gone and feeling sick to my stomach because we wouldn't see him yet another day.

of buying 4 games for Lane (and Parker, eventually) on Black Friday at Target. Seriously people, Candyland, Cooties, Hi Ho Cherry-O all for $3.99. HELLO! I couldn't stop myself!

of considering not putting up a Christmas tree...verdict still out.

of placing items on my Amazon wish list that are far too expensive...but a girl can dream right?!

of adding to the collection of mini vans/SUVs in the Target parking lot at 9 am on most Wednesdays and Thursdays, that is, if I'm not at home loving on my baby girl.

of buying myself a laptop on Black Friday at WalMart. Merry Christmas to me! Now I can Mac Kid from my couch! :-) (and write it off on my taxes)

of making Lane chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes for dinner. What can I say, the child didn't eat ANYTHING all day, except a smoothie for breakfast. Everything I suggested he eat, he said nope! But then pancakes sounded appealing so I made a whole batch. Anything to get the kid some calories for the day. The kid is definitely NOT a foodie.

of using the Boppy to breastfeed and as a TV tray...but not at the same time of course. That thing has many uses!

of writing this post last week and forgetting to post it!

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Randomness

Sorry for the absence...in a nutshell:

• Lane, the KING of fevers is running one. They are usually high, but I'm not quite sure it's considered high for him because whenever he runs a fever it's between 101-103.
• He has no other symptoms.
• I'm thinking these molars are coming. He started showing teething signs back in April, but still nothing.
• I know a temp. of 103 is not considered a "normal teething" symptom, but for him it is. Every Time he's cut a tooth, that's what he's had. Coincidence? I think not!
• But, I'm pushing lots of water and juice and giving him whatever type of food he asks for because I want him to eat something at least! So it's been french toast for dinner and fruit snacks for lunch!
• I just can't believe how hot his little body gets. Yesterday morning when I picked him up out of bed, I instantly knew.
• He has been sleeping great at naps and overnight so at least that isn't being disturbed!
• Hoping it's gone soon!
• My brother is one of 4 finalist in a contest he entered and is flying to NY on an all-expense paid trip next week!
• He's really into movies and film. He transferred at the semester from North Central to Columbia, in Chicago, and he's majoring in film of some sort...Luke, you can correct me where I'm wrong, but anyway he finished his 1st semester at Columbia with the highest GPA he's had since middle school!
• If he wins, he will tour the country this summer as the Gillette spokesman. GOOD LUCK BROTHER!
• I am embarking on a new hobby/work-type adventure...more on that later!
• I am excited for our friends to move to our state!!! We'll have "family" 3 hours away...do you know how close that is!?
• I'm creeping up on the 3rd trimester...crazy!?
• We've decided that we aren't going on a family vacation this summer...sorry Lane...hopefully you won't remember! But we waited a little long to book our vacation to Tybee Island in Savannah and now all the "good" places are taken. And Matt and I both want laptops, so we are buying those instead of going on vacation. Plus we are heading back to Peru 2 times this summer so that sort of qualifies as vacation...sort of...right?
• It's Uncle Ty's birthday....Happy 25th!!!!!
• Oh and if you signed on for your daily dose of the little man.....look below!

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It has been a week

a week!  a week! I tell ya. Lane, has had a weird nose congestion and he is hoarse. I must admit his voice is kinda cute, but his hoarse cry/whine...not so cute. It's been one of those weeks ya know where you pick up your child's room 3 times in an hour and by the next hour it looks like a tornado hit it. Why do I even bother, you ask? Well our house is on the market and I don't like to leave with anything out of place or we might get a call as we are walking in to church and buyers are waiting on our doorstep and just want to "walk through." Even though our house, because the momma was gone all day, has a tampon trail leading from one bathroom up the stairs to a certain little boys room. Because apparently that little boy found the tampons (how? I don't know?? I obviously haven't needed them for months) and decided to spread the tampon joy. On bookshelves, in wine racks, on computer desks, you name it, there was a tampon.

Not to mention the fact that Matt's dirty clothes, boxers included, were sitting next to the hamper...yeah does anyone else have one of those? There were dishes in the sink, diapers laying out, I must admit the bed was made. So folks! I learned that lesson. Despite the fact that you do request a bit of a notice, some people just want to see the house regardless if your dog is there and there's fingerprints all over the patio glass. So every time I leave the house, I do a quick walk through to make sure it's presentable and damn! that's exhausting...especially with an almost 2 year old and a belly that doesn't allow you to bend like you used to.

My patience is thin. I do recall this when I was pregnant with Lane and teaching 2nd graders. I discussed with my mom and when I checked my e-mail this morning, 2 articles appeared about patience. Thanks mom! Now you guys know where I get it!

Lane also started this thing, just this week, where he wants me to be in the room with him while he plays. He developed a little clinginess this week and I'm hoping it's a result of him not feeling so well. He used to just go from upstairs to downstairs, he was in and out, while I actually got some things done. He would acknowledge me every once in a while, stop over to give me a hug or show me something he was playing with....but now...I must be sitting in his room, watching him play. He doesn't even require me to play with him...he just wants me in there. And what does that mean? That means I can get nearly nothing accomplished, except clean and dust his room. Let's just say he has the cleanest room in the house!

And also this week, he has started a new awake time...7 am. It used to be anywhere form 8-9...now...like clockwork...7. Which is still compared to some, sleeping in, but that's usually my awake time so if we wake up at the same time, I get no time to myself.

So snotty-nosed hoarse toddler, house that I can't keep clean, mostly because of said toddler, early start times, whiny and clingy, heat, humidity, it all adds to this week. And thank goodness it is OVER. Bring on the weekend!

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Somewhere in between...

With my focus on my photography hobby which has been extra intensified these past few months because of my recent purchases, my writing has been lacking. I've ALWAYS loved pictures. You should see the stack of photo albums from my school days...ya know...way back when we had film and couldn't tell how the picture would turn out until we...ya know...took them to Walgreen's to the one hour photo!
And then when Lane came, I devised photo shoots almost daily. But then I reached my limits of my point and shoot and decided it was time for an upgrade! So pictures galore it has been. I've been having fun learning along the way. I did mention, in my very first post on this blog, that this would more likely be a photo blog with some writing interspersed! And then I did start writing and it felt good and people responded and enjoyed it as well. So it was equally a writing blog and a picture blog. I know my family members LOVE the photography part because that means new pics of their favorite southern baby daily! And I feel like the photography part will be a gift many years down the road for our family to enjoy.

But I have things on my mind today, so my dear readers, a writing post!

My parenting style seems to be somewhat like my blog...somewhere in between...

I sometimes struggle with what to "do" as a parent because I don't really follow any certain type of parenting style. I don't cloth diaper or co-sleep because it's just not for me, but I had a natural birth, although it was in a hospital, and I breastfed well past a year (and plan to do so with my next one too!), but also feel that there is a point where I would stop if my babies didn't self-wean...ya know like maybe when they're 8?! Kidding! I pretty much responded to Lane's crying as a young young baby, but after 6 months of not getting a full night's sleep, decided a little crying wouldn't hurt him...with a little help from my husband and mother...who did the responding...Lane soon realized he wasn't getting what he thought he would be getting when one of those 2 walked in and just like that..he started sleeping! So I'm obviously not a full-on attachment parenting kind of girl.

I made all of Lane's baby food because I loved doing it. Cooking is something I've taken an interest in and once he started on solid foods, it was a way I could continue to provide for him. I was strictly all organic in the beginning and then realized that sending my children to college and paying for their tuition is something my husband and I feel strongly about! We were both given the GIFT of not having student loans...thank you Mom and Dad! So I modified my strict all organic-diet into something a little easier on the checkbook. I definitely buy all organic fruits and veggies without peels, like strawberries, blueberries, apples, etc. But if my bananas and oranges and grapefruit and pineapple and avocado aren't organic, I don't worry because I tell myself their thick peel protects the fruit from the chemicals. I have transitioned all of our dairy-milk, butter, eggs, yogurt-to organic, but our meat is still a toss up. One week if organic chicken is on sale, I buy it, but if the beef is outrageous, I don't. Basically, I give my kid organic milk, but sometimes he washes down a chicken nugget with that organic milk. I'm somewhere in between.

My son rides rear-facing in my car, but forward facing in my husband's and parent's and in law's car. (I've had a post written about forward vs rear facing for months, but never did get around to posting it!) I will one day just to stop all the naysayers...cough Matt, cough Lace, Dad cough who are always giving me a hard time about his, uh-um, "cramped leg room." I choose to vaccinate, but sometimes question the safety of vaccinations, I have a 'routine' most days, but that routine involves straying away from the 'routine' more times than not. You see! I'm somewhere in between...

So really my point is that sometimes my in-between parenting style leaves me at a loss on how to handle certain situations because there is no book for the in-betweeners. There is no do this and that for the middle of the road parents. But I guess it all ends up okay in the end. I guess I'm doing what works for us. Mostly using my instincts and trying to make the best decisions for a good quality of life for my family. And sometimes being 'somewhere-in-between' is a hard road to follow, but most times it's exactly what I need.

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Is this normal?

I'm having...what's the word...anxiety? sadness? I don't quite know the word to describe what I'm 'having,' but I'm sure it's normal. Well first let me explain what's causing it...

thinking about potty training, him not wearing diapers, researching websites of churches for him to attend 'school' a few mornings a week in the fall.

It's making me bit crazy, a little sad, a lot in denial...:-) I'm sure by now you can guess who the 'him' is that I'm referring to...it's this little boy.



I think of this little boy,



my little baby boy and can't believe I am having to think about these thoughts. He was just born. :sigh: He looked like this...


just yesterday...:sigh:



And now I'm signing him up for 'school?' I can't deal! I know when the new baby arrives, Lane attending school one or two mornings a week will be good for us all. It's only from 9-1 and that will give me time to nurture my newest little one, that will give the newest little one time (it deserves) with me all to theirself, and Lane will get to go and play with new friends and learn a little while he's at it. But when I was reading the handbook, I just couldn't get a grip. I will have to pack him a lunch?? He will be there for 4 hours?? Will I be able to do this?? Maybe I should just start with one day a week and add another one if I feel the need??

I guess I need to prepare myself now...and just keep telling myself that it will be good for us all.

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A compilation of Letters

Dear Lane,
Thank you for pooping in the potty that last few days. Not changing poopy diapers is really nice. Let's try to make this an everyday a couple times a day occurrence.

Dear In Style aka Lacey...(because I don't ever get to read In Style or any other magazines),
Thank you for the tip on being able to wear a different color nail polish on your fingers and toes. I always thought that was a no-no (and a little trashy). I bought this pretty blue and then I realized it matched my sandals. I wasn't brave enough to put the blue on my fingers so I used a pale color (like you advised) pink on my nails. I received a few compliments from some "younger college looking girls"...does that mean I 'got it right?' Or maybe they were just being nice because I had drool on my shoulder and ice cream on my sleeve and I was chasing after a toddler who is obviously way faster than his mom and her 21 week baby belly. Pity or not...I'll take the compliment!

Dear Matt,
Thank you for cleaning up after dinner every night last week. It was awesome to get out of the shower and have a sparkling clean kitchen. You don't know the joy it brought me. I know there are only 3 of us and only 3 meals a day, but I feel like I am constantly cleaning up after a meal and spend my days in the kitchen.

Dear Guy who worked out next to me at the gym on Saturday,
Really? Ok the out loud and somewhat obnoxious singing was enough to make me turn up the volume on my headphones, but really? blowing your nose in your hand and then wiping it on your shirt. REALLY? That was enough to make me puke in my mouth a little and promptly find a new elliptical.

Dear McBaby,
I can't wait to see you this morning. That cute little profile...makes my heart a-flutter. I know mid-morning is your time to sleep, but can you do us a favor and wake up this one time. You have all day and night to sleep. Please give us a glimpse of the forever-moving hands and feet you'll have as a newborn. We'd really appreciate it.
P.S. I'm liking your sleep and awake patterns. Early morning you're awake, mid-morning you take a nap. I thinks it's all the bouncing movement I do at the gym. When I sit for lunch, you kick away. Then we put your brother to sleep and you stay awake with me a little while in the afternoon before you doze off again. Then sometimes you wake for supper time, but mostly you don't really start bouncing around until I sit down and kick my feet up before bed. I sometimes wake by your kicks at night, but it's brief, puts a smile on my face and a reassurance in my heart that you are still there.

Love,
Mommy, Sister Puss, Wife, Angela

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Randomness

I have been getting lots of comments on here, e-mails, and private messages on FB about my camera and pictures. Thought I'd answer a few to clear things up.

I purchased a pretty basic Canon SLR. My point and shoot (poor thing, it was a really nice one too) just wasn't doing it for me anymore so I decided it was time for something "bigger." While I did want "bigger" than my point and shoot, I didn't want something that was "too big" for me to handle. I'm definitely an amateur and spending 1000's of dollars on an SLR that I wouldn't know how to use half the functions wasn't something I was going for!

I don't edit my pictures using photoshop or any other editor like that. I used to edit my pictures more with my point and shoot because, well, they kind of needed it. I found that I like the look of my SLR pics pretty much SOOC (straight out of the camera.) I use photobucket as an image host and sometimes do some small tweaking in there, but my theory is that society is all about "natural" so why photoshop the heck out of a picture to the point of it looking unnatural? This also could be a partial excuse for not wanting to sit down and learn another program. I have enough on my plate at the moment! Don't get me wrong, I love the look of some photoshopped pics, but there is a point, ya know?! Photoshop also seems to do some really other neat things too. Plus the money I was saving toward the possible purchase of picture editing software has already been spent on a lens for my camera...Happy Mother's Day to me!
(Sidenote: I picked our photographer for that reason. She did photos for us in November and while she did edit a little bit, it wasn't overboard and I've found a lot of professional photographers around here overuse it!)

Other things:
Potty Training
I am not potty training Lane, but 2 months ago he started showing interest so I decided I better show some interest too. We bought a small potty and started out sitting on it. I'd ask him every once in a while if he wanted to sit on it, or sometimes he would ask to sit on it, and that's what we would do. Read books, sing, talk, all while sitting on the potty. After about 2-3 weeks of that, out of the blue one night it looked like he was trying to poop so I asked him if he wanted to go on the potty and he said "YEAH!" We were upstairs, nowhere near his little potty so I sat him on the big one and he went. Since then, he's gone pee a few times on the big potty and small potty. He doesn't tell me when he has to go, I just happen to catch him at the right moment. I'm not really ready to potty train so I'm taking a really laid back approach. He is a boy and is only 1. Plus my mom and I were talking and she mentioned that his bladder might not even be mature enough to hold urine through naps and nighttime. It would be awesome if I could poop-train him though...I've had about enough of changing those nasty diapers!

House
Our house is still on the market. We're hoping to sell it sometime in the next year! It's been very slow. We've had quite a few showings, but that's about it. While we do have enough room for a small family of four, we could use more. We have 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, but we always need a guest room because that's something we always use. I am not planning on doing a nursery for the new baby. For the first 3-4 months Lane was in our room so he didn't even use his room. I'm hoping by the time the baby grows out of the bassinet, we will have sold and found a new house. We could also use a yard. That's key for Lane!

Vacuum
Lane cries hysterically when I bring out the vacuum. Yesterday I found him in the corner of his room behind his glider crying and shaking. Our dog also heads for the hills when I bring it out. :Sigh: I need to vacuum, but I feel like I am torturing them. What sensitive children I have.

Baby
I am feeling really good. I am usually exhausted by the end of the day though. That hasn't seemed to go away in the "blissful" 2nd trimester. We don't have any names and haven't talked about any since I was like 5 weeks pregnant. We need to get on that subject again. I feel like I will probably have another boy. I really don't have a preference. Everyone assumes since I already have a boy that I want a girl, but that's not true. I want a healthy, full-term baby!

I am trying to figure out the logistics of where Lane will go when I go into labor. I had a relatively short labor and delivery with him-11 hours from the first contraction until he was out. It takes 12 hours to get here from home...which is where everyone would be coming from. I also went 2 weeks early with him so we can't exactly plan on booking a flight for someone around my due date. We have close friends who used to be our neighbors that I may ask, but we'll see...any suggestions?!

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Things that made me happy this week...

MY bed...after a short, but looong weekend back to Peru for a party to celebrate Grandpa Ed's 60th birthday!

A full night's sleep that didn't include waking up at 330 am on Saturday for a 6 am flight and then proceeding to stay up for almost a full 24 hours...what was I thinking?! I guess Grandpa Ed's party was just that fun!

Flying back home on Monday afternoon with my family in tow...all 3 3 1/2 of us. It makes for a much easier flight when there is 2 adults to occupy a very busy toddler.

Finding our milk for $3.83/gallon...woot woot! Considering it's been close to $7 for the past few weeks and I couldn't justify spending that much for one gallon of milk...let alone 2!

Lane eating the tomato, basil, and feta pizza I made last night for dinner. He's had a food revolution lately. He'll eat anything and everything. It brings me back to the days when he would scarf on spinach souffle as a 9 month old and down broccoli balls like they were candy. I hope it continues!

A blueberry jelly mustache on my sleepy-eyed baby boy...

Swiss cheese and Triscuits.

Big spinach salads for lunch with all the fixings...especially olives, pepperoncini, carrots, and broccoli.

Baby kicks from within.

Baby body parts protruding out of my belly that Matt can feel!

A ruined manicure as long as it's a result of a ridiculously clean house.

Lacey's upcoming trip to SC!

A trip to the beach next week!

My step class at the gym. It brings me back to my cheerleading days...learning routines and busting a move to music from the 90's by Tone Loc...funky cold medina anyone?!

The fact that my big baby occupies my attention all day and when I finally sit down and kick up my feet, my little baby starts moving around as if to say "it's my turn!"

The toy closet spilling out into the living room. It may not look the neatest, but it's a sign of some darn good playing by a certain 1 1/2 year old. Plus that means I got to clean toilets and showers and make banana bread (not at the same time ;-)) before starting dinner!

And hopefully I'm back. I haven't picked up my camera but maybe twice in the past week in a half. Things have been crazy, but in a good way.

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In the past 3 days

• we've had an awesome time with Papa and Nene, life is just fuller when they are around.
• we've had record amounts of rainfall and they still have yet to see the South Carolina sun I am so fond of...sorry guys.
• we've all been puked on and/or pooped on, yes, gross, I know, but truthful.
• Lane has woken up out of a dead sleep 2 different nights laying in a pile of his puke...sorry for the TMI!
• we've decided the common denominator is raisins. He had them for a snack both days he's woken up sick.
• Lane has been bathed 2 times as much than he has in the past week combined.
• Lane has had 6 different sets of sheets on his bed that have been washed and dried 3 different times.
• Lane has had 6 different pajama changes.
• we've been to Rite Aid 4 times for various reasons including stocking up on Pedialyte.
• we've laughed a lot.
• we (meaning my mom and I) have been to 2 different Kohl's 2 different days and bought way too much for a certain Mr. Man. How many Easter outfits does a 1 year old need?
• we have also done some damage at Old Navy.
• we've talked about how we have 3 more days to shop some more...:-)
• we've taken at least a hundred and fifty pictures...can you tell?

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This Life

I was pondering, This Life, while emptying out the dishwasher this afternoon. I had a very energetic toddler running back and forth from his toys to the kitchen jibber-jabbering away. I like listening to the jibber-jabber. This Life brings intriguing jibber-jabber.

I noticed that our cup cabinet was over-run by sippy cups that now far exceed beer pints. That's what This Life is about. Animal-shaped plates that take the place of the china, dull miniature-sized utensils that now occupy the extra slot in our silverware tub. Stainless steel lids that once only covered pots, now double as drums and a Pampered Chef wooden spoon as the stick. This Life. Sweet beautiful music (only a mother could love) played by an 18 month old learning rhythm. This Life.

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The simple things in This Life. The laughter, the tears, the squeals and screams and splashes during bath time. The food on the floor, the fingerprints on the stainless steel appliances, the cuddles before bedtime. My favorite, the leg hugs (does anyone know what I am talking about!?) The hugs, the kisses, the love. This Life. The simple joys of going through Daddy's basket and appearing with these on:

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This Life. This wonderful McLife.

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I'm pretty sure...

• I'm pretty sure I am ready for Christmas-shopping done, presents wrapped, getting organized for our trip home
• I'm pretty sure I squeal with excitement at the thought of Lacey's wedding and all the festivities surrounding it
• I'm pretty sure I picked the coldest morning of the week to stop at the park after the gym
• I'm pretty sure it was 42 at 10 am and noone else was there because they are from SC and think 42 is FREEZING
• I'm pretty sure, I must admit, I think 42 is freezing as well
• I'm pretty sure Lane didn't think twice that it was 42. He was glad to be outside
• I'm pretty sure I stopped at the park this day because it was so sunny and pretty out
• I'm pretty sure the extra fresh air helped Lane to sleep extra long today and that's why I am writing this post
• I'm pretty sure I took to heart what an older lady at the gym told me in response to her observing me let Lane look at the fountain, the bike racks, the stairs, the airplanes, the trees, etc (i.e. dilly dally) instead of hurrying to the car
• I'm pretty sure she said "I'm glad you are letting him stop and smell the roses."
• I'm pretty sure I was glad I was too without even realizing it, after all, it is my job!
• I'm pretty sure we all need to be reminded to "stop and smell the roses sometime"
• I'm pretty sure my face was beat red when a college girl in Body Blast class asked me if I have a personal trainer. I'm pretty sure it turned even brighter red when I told her I am lucky and have good genetics
• I'm pretty sure Lane is close to 30 lbs. (which could also be why my arms are toned) 30lbs up and down up and down all day everyday
• I'm pretty sure I was filled with anxiety last week when I was told that I could not eat anything after lunch...until....DINNER??!!? wha???
• I'm pretty sure it was because a nurse was coming over to draw blood and do a quick physical on us for life insurance purposes
• I'm pretty sure by being told I could not eat, made me in fact, want to eat even more
• I'm pretty sure Lane and I each have at LEAST one snack between lunch and dinner and mostly 2 (Hey, don't want my blood sugar low or my metabolism to slow ;-)
• I'm pretty sure I have passed my germ-phobia onto Lane
• I'm pretty sure after washing his hands with soap and water at the gym he then proceeded to hold out his hand for sanitizer at the door when we were leaving (or maybe it's just fun to push out and rub the sanitizer onto his hands)
• I'm pretty sure the high tomorrow is 38 and there is a prediction for snow
• I'm pretty sure the grocery stores will be crazy tonight with people buying milk and bread...no lie...that's what they do here when "snow" is predicted
• I'm pretty sure I have to work tonight (and Lane too)
• I'm pretty sure Matt will remember to pick Lane up at The Shop on his way home from work (did you know Lane was a Shop employee??? He works one hour every Thursday!) The many perks of being a Shop employee...LOL...you can bring your children if they have no place to go :-)
• I'm pretty sure I was glad to chat with my mother-in-law, Loretta, last night while Matt gave Lane a bath.
• I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be cooking dinner, but talking with Loretta is MUCH more fun!
• I'm pretty sure Lane's new favorite word is 'no' but he says it like 'ah-na' just so matter of factly
• I'm pretty sure I asked for reddish low lights at my hair appt. last night (I know, daring (for me))
• I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I got and love them!
• I'm pretty sure it was a good festive change, just in time for the holidays and that it gave my boring one-dimensional blond locks a little dimension!
• I'm pretty sure that's about all I'm pretty sure about right now...

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Untitled

• it's pouring here...POURING! Has been since I woke up at 7. I think my house might wash away. It's also cold...COLD...
• we (meaning Lane and I) just got back from a meeting with our financial advisor to take care of some retirement accounts for myself...Lane was good, if you consider good dumping his snack cup of Chex cereal all over Mr. financial planners floor. How did he manage to spill the Chex out of the snack cup you ask, well he pulled off the lid, of course!
• did I mention it's raining and that I just pulled all of our clothes that we were wearing today out of the dryer. We only went to Edward Jones and parked less than 2 feet from the door, but we were soaked.
• and the buttons on my jeans are burning my skin because they just got out of the dryer...I know I know, take them off, but I don't want to because it's one less thing to get done before we leave for the Illini game tonight.
• Lane, I think, is finally napping after pulling a crappy 30 minute one just before lunch. Hopefully he sleeps up until the minute we have to leave because of the game which doesn't start until 7:30
• oh and did I mention we are going with 2 car loads of people that DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN! Yep we are "those" people bringing their kid to the basketball game. But I wasn't comfortable leaving him with a non-family member babysitter while out of town. I totally trust her and all, it's just that if something happened, I wouldn't want her to have to deal with it...I'd much rather have a family member, but since we don't have any here....the game for Lane it is!
• I am looking forward to it. Lane's first Illinois basketball game.
• Here's to him being good!

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