Rough Day.

I'm having a rough day.
I wont be blogging much today.
I wont be at work tomorrow, and then I'll be gone for the weekend.
Probably wont be back to blogging until...Monday.

So Much to Say, So Much to Say...

Okay...so last night was the season premiere of Gilmore Girls.
I missed it. Didnt PVR it. I was in class...

I was in class, turning in the most BORING paper ever for my Research I class.

Dad accepted a full-time position with the Marriott, so he will be retiring from Delta & moving to Houston. I believe his start date is in the beginning of October, so this is all about to happen pretty quickly. He's ready to leave Delta behind, so it'll hopefully be good.
He went to Houston yesterday & found an apartment he likes. The apartment complex has ELEVEN pools, a fitness center with trainers, etc. Sounds like fun!

I got an mp3 player last year at Christmas. Just yesterday I tried to upload songs, but it's not compatible with napster, etc.etc. What a whooping. I just gave up.

I have no class tonight. Thank goodness. I have class tomorrow night though, and we're working on a group project for behavior modification, and I have to prepare a little "bit" on the history of behavior modification (Pavlov, Skinner, etc.) Need to get on that...

I have a wedding this Saturday. Sarah, the girl I share my office with, is getting married. What to wear? What to wear? What will the weather be like??? I want a new dress. Something to feel SASSY in.

Oh, speaking of weddings & dresses....Megan bought her wedding dress on Saturday! Cant wait to see it. And, I picked out my bridesmaid dress....
This is the dress...it's called the "Coco" & mine will be black with a black sash.

Took my measurements for the dress....34-29-36. Everytime I hear measurements like that, my brain immediately references "36-24-36" from that song, "Baby Got Back".
Um...for that I will need to increase my bust & decrease my waist!

Got a raise. Well, it will go into effect in October, but I'm excited about that...I got 5.5%. Not bad at all!

Gage's squeaky shoes are in. I was in class last night though, so I have not tried them on him yet. I'm sure they are going to be awesome.

My friend, Jolene, is PG with twins---twin girls, fraternal. Well, yesterday, for the very first time she felt a distinct "kick". We were all in a meeting yesterday afternoon, and then it happened. It was so cute!

Speaking of babies...Julie & Ben (Susan's little sister...well, she's 5'9" & pregnant, so she's not so "little"...I should say, Susan's younger sister & her husband) are having a girl. Little Caroline Bliss is growing, growing!

Last Friday, had to take Eddie-Spaghetti to the vet. He's having a difficult time in the restroom department. Vet suggests that it is likely due to aging. I had to switch him to light dog food, and now feed him a 1/2 can of pumpkin 2x/day. I thought at first that Eddie would not eat the pumpkin--but I was wrong. He's totally down with it. Yums it up. The issues have not completely resolved themselves, but we're working on it.

Won't be at work on Friday. Linda-lou is going out of town, so I have no childcare that day. No biggie---I have Gage's 1 year pedi appt. that day too, so poor thing will have to go w/ Mommy & get shots. (sniff*sniff)

Topic: new car.
There has been much discussion in my household about me getting a new car. Currently, I have mixed emotions on that for a variety of reasons. I will discuss a few...(1)Cost. My car will be paid off very soon. I look forward to a period of time with absolutely no car payments. A time where I will be financially responsible for fuel, maintenance, registration, inspection, and insurance only. (2) Emotional attachment. I have only had 2 cars in my life: my first car, the convertible...& now this one. When my first car was totaled & towed away, I stood there & just cried & cried about losing my car---even though I knew I was getting a new car. So many memories from that car.... And now, this car. This is the car we were in to bring Gage home the hospital. So many memories with this car.
So...I don't know what's going to happen in the near future w/ regard to the purchase of a new car for me.... we'll see.

Can we talk Desperate Housewives?
Marcia Cross is pregnant, but I heard that they are not going to work it into the story line. But--in the show--her character---getting all entangled with psycho-dentist guy??? Let's think back...she met the dentist while he was "visiting" someone in the mental facility while she was there as a patient. Here's a theory: maybe he didnt kill his wife--maybe nobody has heard from her b/c she's in the mental facility....hmmmmm...just a theory.


And now it's time for....
...Random Things About Me!

1. I'm a social worker.
2. I have a dog & a cat.
3. My toenails are painted red.
4. My fave flip-flops (at the moment) came from Old Navy.
5. My hair is naturally curly.
6. My favorite swimsuit ever is my yellow bikini (which I admit is WORN OUT!)
7. Right now, my car is filthy, inside & out.
8. I havent gone for a manicure in over a month.
9. Calla Lillies are my favorite flower.
10. I ate a Rice Krispy treat last night.
11. My toothbrush is pink, orange, & white.
12. My 2 favorite hair products are "Smooth & Seal" by Straight Sexy Hair, and "Super Skinny Serum" by Paul Mitchell.
13. I love mimosas.
14. I still have my baby blanket from when I was younger.
15. I've collected Christmas ornaments fro years & from all over the world.
16. I suck at reading maps.
17. I've only owned 2 cars ever.
18. I'm kind of PMSy right now.
19. I miss Cafe du Monde beignets.
20. My kitchen had turquoise carpet when we first bought our home.


Okay, that's plenty of stuff for now.

Funny Newspaper Ads.

I got this in an email from mom, who got it from Tammy, who got it from....

Anyway...it had me laughing this morning, so I thought I would share...

REAL NEWSPAPER ADS

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.
8 years old. Hateful little dog. Bites.

FREE PUPPIES:
1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.

FREE PUPPIES...
Mother, AKC German Shepherd.
Father, Super Dog...able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.
Looks like a rat ... Been out a while.
Better be a reward.

COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.
Also 1 gay bull for sale.

NORDIC TRACK
$300 Hardly used, call Chubby.

GEORGIA PEACHES
California grown - 89 cents lb.

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!
Must sell washer and dryer $300.


WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE.
WORN ONCE BY MISTAKE.
Call Stephanie.

AND THE BEST ONE:

FOR SALE BY OWNER:
Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes.
Excellent condition. $1,000 or best offer. No longer needed, got
married last month. Wife knows everything.

Welcome to the Party!

Gage's FIRST Birthday Party was on Saturday...


The cake table...


The big cake...


Gage's cake...


The fire station...


Gage in the bounce house...


The Birthday Boy!


Of course it's blurry: he's running!


Gage & Mommy (yes, I did wear the fireman hat! We all did!)


He got soooo many gifts!


Yummy cake!


Sucking icing off his little thumb...


And...he's done!

Commentary on some randomness...

Well, this blog is being generated out of procrastination.
I am at the library & should be looking for articles for my research proposal due...um, Tuesday. Today's Sunday.

My brain & eyes need a break!

This morning, after a fight of course, I got to sleep in until big 7:30.
Hey---it's MY day.
Well, the day started around 5:30ish when I had to remind someone that yesterday was HIS day to sleep in.
The general rule is that if it is your day to get up early, then you are responsible for all parenting duties from 6 am until the other parent wakes (at their discretion). So, technically, I was responsible for all parenting duties this morning until 6am. Um, at 5:30ish, I changed the rule.
I rounded up to 6 b/c it was after 5:30. It was 5:30-something.

Of course then, I felt kind of guilty, plus I was mad, even though I was very well aware of the fact that I was wrong.

But, I got over it & snoozed until 7:30.

So, here I am admitting my mistakes.

...and now, onto my commentary, which has been lacking in this blog of mine.

The Birthday Party: big hit. Went very well. Will of course be posting pics soon. And that reminds me---for Christmas, I want a new XD thing for my camera so I can hold more pictures! I had to rely on mom's camera, and now I have to go download the pics to a CD so I can upload them.
So, I promise to revisit the birthday party topic, when I can adequately relay the events with corresponding photography.

Big Brother All Stars: yes, I'm aware that this has been over for a while, but I have yet to give my opinion, which is this: Mike Boogie? Are you freakin' kidding me? I so wanted Janelle to win. I can't stand Mike Boogie. But whatever. I don't rule the world.

Grey's Anatomy: Is it me, or does McDreamy not look so dreamy anymore? He's all skinny-scrawny...somebody hand that man a Big Mac. And poor Addison...I just feel bad for her, and yet, I'm still hoping that Meredith & Derek will get together.

Names...there are quite a few names that I dont like. Derek is one of them. (Can you track my train of thought here??? Derek on Grey's Anatomy is McDreamy....yada,yada,yada.)

Dateline, To Catch a Predator: seriously---do these people never learn??? I guess men who are chatting/trying to pick up underage girls/guys are successful more often than not, and think the odds are in their favor for not being caught on that show/by the police. Just the thought of that is sooooooo scary. And, I guess it's that whole way of thinking "It will never happen to me"....typically seen in your teenage population, but I guess with these men too....

Okay. I've got to get to work on my school stuff now.

Must not procrastinate.
Must not procrastinate.
Must not procrastinate....

One year ago...

One year ago today, I was going to the hospital to have my son.

I would never return home the same.
I would never ever be the same!

Here's my post from a year ago telling Gage's birth story....



On Thursday, 9/22/5, I was scheduled to go into the hospital for my induction. I was told to call L&D first to make sure they were still able to induce me that day. Damon called around 7, as we were supposed to go in at 8. They said that I had to be delayed, and that they could take me at 9.

So, we leave the house to head to the hospital...oh, about 8:30 in the morning. As we are backing out of the driveway--it seems to hit Damon that we wont be returning to our home as 2 people ever again...when we come back, there will be a 3rd person with us!!! We'll be parents!!! As he was verbalizing all this to me--you could see the little beads of sweat developing on his forehead. Damon FINALLY had his little "overwhelmed" moment. Lord knows I had a few throughout the whole pregnancy...

So, we hop on the highway heading to the hospital. Damon was so excited that he was on the phone nonstop with various people. I tried a couple of times to suggest that we not take the highway, but he was quite occupied on the phone. Well...the highways were packed with all of the Gulf-coast people fleeing Hurricane Rita. (Hello...45 turns into 75, and the hospital is off 75....) So, there we were...running late.

Finally, we get to the hospital. Some of Damon's family was there. (His sister, Kim, even beat us to the hospital!...obviously she didnt take 75...) After the necessary paperwork they took me back to my laboring room & got me started. As it turned out, I was actually contracting on my own--every 5-7 minutes. They didnt hurt. And,I guess I had just gotten used to the slight discomfort, b/c I didnt realize anything was out of the norm...

First IV infiltrated. Thought I was going to die.
2nd one was better...and they got the pitocin going.

I was there laboring for over 15 hours. They kept increasing the amount of pitocin...I never dilated past a 3. Finally, around 1 in the morning, the doctor came in & broke my water. Oh my...that's a lot of "water"! So, from that point, there was no turning back!!!

Before that---we were so afraid that they were going to send me home as a "failed induction" since I wasnt making any progress. At 1 in the morning, the doctor explained that was an option, or we could just break the water & get on with things.

So...the doctor came back at 3 in the morning. I was STILL only dilated to a 3. Gage was showing no signs of distress, but I was not progressing at all. Dr.Brough said that it looked like I wasnt dilating because Gage's head wasnt properly engaged in my pelvis, possibly because his head was just too large for my pelvis. So, a c-section was our safest option then.

Got my epidural...Damon got his scrubs to wear. By this point---Megan, Susan, Damon's Mom & Dad, & My mom were still there. My sister & brother in law had to leave, and Damon's sister had to leave. (who can blame them??? it was 3 in the morning!!!)

The epidural....well, it didnt take so easily on my left side. Apparently it was leaking out all over the bed behind me. So, that had to be resolved. Going in, it didnt hurt as much as I thought it would...but it made a sound...it was just a weird gross sound... But then, boom--it was over & the epidural was in! Easy. Anyway...before going into the OR, they had to keep giving me more & more medicine to get my left side numb. So, by the time they were wheeling me to the OR, I could barely feel my face! Everything just felt so heavy. But, as I was being wheeled by the nurse's station, I remember saying to all of the people there, "I'm going to have a baby now." They all said things like, "Congratulations" & "Good Luck" & they were all laughing & smiling at me. I'm sure I sounded half drunk!!!

So, we go into the OR...and there are nurses all around...my doctor's there...and they're counting things...and hooking me up to things...and asking me if I want to listen to music (I could barely feel my ears!...and besides, all I cared about hearing was my baby cry!) Then some other dr came in to assist. I'd never met him before. They put my arms flat out to my sides...I always thought they strapped them down, but Damon told me that my arms werent strapped down. It wouldnt have mattered anyway...I couldnt feel them!

So, they started prepping my lower tummy for the surgery. In the big light overhead, I could see what they were doing in the reflection. I was hoping that they would leave the light just like that so that I could watch the whole thing...they didnt. They put the big "tarp" up so that Damon & I couldnt watch. I guess it probably is too much for some people....

Then Damon came in....they said that I would feel pressure, but not pain...tugging or pulling but not cutting. No. I didnt feel anything. The next thing I know---Gage was here! The nurse took our camera & got pictures of his very first breath. He cried exactly 3 big wails, and then across the room--you could hear him sucking.

Dr.Brough said that Gage was trying to come out face up, and he had the cord wrapped around his neck. He said that it also looked like he never would have fit through my pelvis. So, my healthy little man never even showed any signs of distress through all of that! What a trooper!









Gage was born at 3:59 am on Friday, 9/23/05.
He weighed 7 lb 10.4 oz.
He was 19 3/4 inches long.

He was born on a Friday, my very favorite day of the week. Damon & I also got married on a Friday...

But anyway...back to his birth story!

Damon went w/ the nurses to watch Gage get cleaned up & weighed...and he came back over to me & I asked if he had any hair. I think I asked if it was dark too. Damon said he had a ton of dark hair. Well--I was picturing a big huge mop of black hair. No, he had medium-brown or even light brown fine baby hair. Not very much at all. To Damon, that was a lot of hair...



I remember Damon bringing Gage over to me to see him for the very first time. Gage was all swaddled up in blankets & had a hat on his head. It wasnt enough!!! I wanted him to be immediately unwrapped so that I could see his whole little body! I didnt ask for that though, b/c I knew Gage would get cold! But I tell you--I wasnt satisfied until I saw his whole little body...fingers, toes, tooshy...all of it!





After that...they must have stitched me up...& wheeled me back to my room...I barely remember that... I dont remember saying Goodbye to Dr.Brough...

During this time Damon went out to the waiting room to tell everyone the good news. I've seen this on the video camera, obviously..I wasnt there... You truly could not have peeled the smile off Damon's face. And, being that we're in the age of digital cameras, everyone got to see the pictures of Gage immediately. What a treat!

I remember being back in my L&D room, and they brought Gage into my room in an isolette (spelling???). He was near the foot of my bed. I still hadnt held him yet...and I was so nervous about my arms & hands being unsteady from the epidural. But, I just couldnt stand it, so either Damon or a nurse handed him to me, and I got to hold him for the very first time. It was wonderful. But, I was still nervous about my arms, so I only held him for a minute.



After that, Family came in & Megan & Susan...they all got to hold him.



I just enjoyed looking at him & watching him....

Shortly afterward, they took me upstairs to my postpartum room, and Gage to the nursery for his first bath, & tests, & let me rest.

I remember opening my eyes a little while later, and all I wanted to see was that sweet face a little more!



And even still...I never get tired of looking at him!!!



Now...it's a year later.
He's grown SSSSOOOOOO much.
He's looking more like a little boy everyday, instead of a baby....

9/23/6
Gage,
Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy.
Mommy loves you!

My Little Beastie Baby!

So, not today, but yesterday & the day before, Gage & I jammed to my old Beastie Boys cds while driving in the morning....

He sits in his carseat & kicks his legs to the music, and now, he sometimes pats his knees to the beat. It's precious!

So...there we were, going on our way...just jamming to "Brass Monkey", among other songs...


And here.....I found....a little "Brass Monkey, that Funky Monkey" outfit for babies. It's crackin' me up!
www.angelicgenius.com

New Shoes.

Gage loves new shoes.

Now, many of you are probably thinking, "No, it's Mommy who loves for Gage to have new shoes"...or "It's Mommy who loves new shoes in general."
Well, both of those may also be true...but really, my child loves new shoes.

I took him to Northpark Mall, where we purchase 2 pairs of Converse All Stars tennis shoes--low tops.
He was so proud when people would look at his shoes. He'd bounce his little feet when passers-by were...well, passing by.
And--there he was, securely harnessed in his stroller w/ the 5-point harness that I'm sure is also the same one used in bungee-jumping contraptions...but I digress.
So, there he is in his little stroller w/ the little tray-table thing in front...he would lift his feet up & hold them out straight so that he could see his shoes over the tray-table.

So proud of his new little kicks...

Well....look what Mommy just bought for Baby Gage!


from www.borninmommysheart.com

You may be thinking, "Oh, look, a pair of brown kid shoes."
Well...these squeak every time he takes a step! I'm so excited.

I'm either going to adore them, or require lots & lots of booze & pills to put up with them!

(...I'm just kidding about the booze & pills by the way....I'd never mix the two--I'd do one or the other!........okay...again, just kidding!)

He's getting so big!

My little boy is getting so big.

These were taken yesterday....

















He is just getting so big!

TMX

Elmo: Tickle Me X-treme!

Gage must have one.
Yes, I am one of those parents that is completely buying into the hype. It's so cute & funny, and I am convinced it will make my son's heart sing!




From USAToday:
Meet 'Top Secret Elmo'
By Olivia Barker, USA TODAY
For a guy who has giggled, squawked, sung and shouted, Elmo sure is quiet these days.

Ten years after the original Elmo was the must-have toy, a new version called T.M.X. will make its appearance in the fall.
Fisher-Price

His latest incarnation is about to be introduced at Toy Fair, but only in a manner of speaking.

The toy industry will reveal at its annual trade show starting Feb. 12 that the new Elmo's name is T.M.X., a nod to his moniker Tickle Me Elmo, as well as his 10th birthday. The plush toy will cost about $40, compared with his previous recommended retail of $29.99. He will require six AA batteries (included).

But that's about all that is known.

Elmo's new identity is shrouded in the kind of secrecy typically reserved for the latest Harry Potter book or iPod. His full, furry self won't be revealed until T.M.X. hits store shelves in September. The delay is unprecedented, toy experts say.

Back in 1996, Tickle Me Elmo mania made grown men cry — in happiness over snagging one of the elusive toys — and drove desperate moms to duke it out in store aisles. He was one of the last huge hits of the toy industry, which is betting that this successor will stimulate sales in the upcoming holiday season. "The toy is so magical that we want to keep a little suspense around it," says Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands, which include Fisher-Price, the maker of Elmo.

The only available image of the red phenomenon features him in silhouette, in a haze, giving off a "Tenth Coming of Elmo" aura. A short promotional video shows an anointed few watching and reacting to the new toy; all had to sign confidentiality agreements.

"That's truly amazing," Jim Silver, co-publisher of Toy Wishes magazine, gushes in the clip.

The soundtrack is Bachman-Turner Overdrive's You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

Silver says he has seen nothing like it, but he can't say much else about it — yet. "The first reaction I had was, 'Where are the wires?' Because I didn't think anything like that could move on its own."

The effect was akin to puppetry, but with no strings attached. "It was very impressive," Silver says.

Of all of Elmo's alter egos, "this is the first one in a long time that's a real 'wow,' and you go, 'How did they do that?' " says toy analyst Chris Byrne, who laughs heartily at T.M.X.'s antics in the video. "This is a quantum leap forward," like the original, "another breakthrough in the preschool plush category."

No wonder, then, that the toy's new name also can be read as Tickle Me Elmo Extreme, Fisher-Price says.

Though Byrne predicts the company will sell every T.M.X. it makes, he says he doesn't think Elmo will fuel any slugfests in the next holiday season. "The culture has moved beyond that, the whole hot-toy phenomenon," he says.

There hasn't been a widespread playthings craze since Furby was unleashed in 1998.

T.M.X.'s cloak-and-dagger debut is "completely consistent with the way things are marketed in this country," Byrne says. "Because this is such a fickle consumer society, raising the volume on that buzz is really important."

And though the toy is silent now, does T.M.X. live up to that buzz?

"To me," he says, "it does."
*********************************************

On another note....the TMX Elmo in a store, if you can find it, will cost around 40 bucks.
Just saw a brand new, in the box TMX Elmo on Amazon.com for $299.95.
Are you kidding me???
My son doesnt need one THAT bad.
You'll be able to find them in thrift stores in a year. I'm not paying $300 for an Elmo doll!

So much...

So much that I've done!

Cleaned out my purse...it's definitely been a while.
Balanced my checkbook (hadn't done that since 8/16...)

Have my annual performance eval tomorrow.
Have a "bariatric sensitivity training" tomorrow morning. (fun...NOT!)
...I can't believe I just typed that.

Well, I did. Moving on.

Tuna fish sandwich for lunch.
Then chocoate cake after that.
Seemed like a good idea at the time....then shortly thereafter I thought I was going to greet it all again as I puked in the bathroom.
Word to the wise: you may not eat the two TOGETHER, but they end up meeting in your tummy, and it's got to be an awful little spat they're having in there.
YUCK.

Mom Lesson #3851

Baby hands coated in raspberries will stain taupe couches.

Getting Ready for the Big ONE!

Okay...so we're getting ready for Gage's b-day party...

Here's the firetruck & firestation for the cake....


And...here's a little "ONE" t-shirt that he may or may not wear at his party. Depending on the weather...and the shirt is long sleeved...so we'll see.


And...we did TONS of yardwork!

Can you believe it's pumpkin time already???


This is one of my little yard dragonflies. Love it. I got 4 dragonflies & one butterfly.


Here we are...striking a pose. So sweaty & gross after busting our butts on Saturday!
In the end, we planted: 49 mums, 4 petunias, 4 ferns, 3 bushes, and 2 other bushy things. Plus, we mulched. We still have some mulching to do...but we got a TON accomplished.

AAAANNNDDD....remember how I got Gage a firetruck, and I couldn't wait for his birthday to give it to him???
Well, I got a license plate for it, and went to HD (Home Depot) to get some zip-ties to properly affix his little license plate.
It's so cute!


What a stud!


I can't wait for his birthday, and I can't wait to see his little birthday cake!
I hope he's in a good mood that day.
I hope he's not overwhelmed by people.
I hope he enjoys opening gifts.
I just can't wait!

Welcome to parenthood: you get more excited about your kid's birthday than your own.

Me Love You Long Time!

Okay, I didnt allot much time for blogging today.
Please forgive me.

After work---I need to go to the school library, and then find a quiet place to do my homework for tomorrow night.
Ugh. Not looking forward to that....but, oh well.
It must be done.

I'm so ready to be done with grad school & it just started.
It's going to be a long few years...

Piracy...

This one's for Jamie...




"AAAAAAAARRRGGGH! I'm a Pirate!
And I'm Heeeere for the Booty!"

Why I was late...

So, I've pretty much worn out the ol' "I was late because of traffic."
And, it's not fair.
It's always true when I say it.
I have a long way to travel to get to work.

I wake up in Dallas, drive to Rockwall, and then turn around & drive to Arlington.
It's a long way.
I travel the freeways with many other drivers, and frequently there are travel delays. Yes, I can prepare for them, but never really know how much extra time to throw in there for travel/delay purposes.

Anyway...
So, the other morning, I'm leaving Rockwall...get into Garland...and there's an accident on the service road.
We all narrow our travelling into one lane. When I was 2nd in line to get through, a cop comes over & tells me & the lady in front of me that Careflite is going to land on the freeway, so it's going to be shut down completely--for a while.
too late to back up.
too late to catch the last exit prior to this point.
Nothing to do but sit & wait.
So I took a picture to show my boss....."I swear, I was in traffic!"

This is my delay.

I'm a big dork for even taking these pictures.
I'm very well aware of that fact.

Here's Careflite coming in to land...

And, for the record...I made it to the hospital for work by 8:04. That's right.
It was wonderful once the freeway opened back up because there were hardly ANY cars!
Woohoo!

I swear it's not perfect.

Someone recently said to me that they think I have the perfect life with the perfect marriage & the perfect child, and must live in this orderly & tidy perfect house.

I assure you...(and for those that REALLY know me...you'll know this is true)...I am FAR FROM PERFECT!
Now granted, my child is almost perfect...(I could do without the fits he throws every now & then...and his dependency on the bottle...)

Anyway...
After a full day of playing...
Here's what happens to my orderly & tidy perfect living room....


My house gets messy.
My child gets messy.
I get messy.
Life gets messy!

Happy Birthday, Linda Lou!

Okay, so Linda, my mother in law, just had a birthday.
We had them over to lunch to celebrate.
Her birthday wasn't actually ON Sunday, but that's when we got together.


I didn't ice the cake...Damon did.
But, I baked it!





The candles are golf balls on tees. She loves golf!

Welcome Baby Lane!

My cousin & his wife just had their 2nd child...a boy...

Welcome to the world, Baby Lane!

Me holding Baby Lane.


Ty, Lane, & Nicole


He was about...25-27 hours old in this picture!


Their little family just grew by 2 feet!


And Ty is already the perfect big brother.


Here's Gage...running in the hall outside Nicole's room!


Yes, I am aware that he is wearing his jammies. It was evening time, and off to bed when we got home!

I LOVE THIS!

Yesterday, I had one of these from Starbucks.
Love it, love it, love it.

Grapefruit essential oils are used in aromatherapy, because, it is said, the fragrance is uplifting and encourages joy and cooperation.

I say, it's yummy yummy to my tummy!
(Okay...I sound like a little kid...but whatever. Maybe that's why most kids like me...)

"When I Come to the Club--Step Aside!"

So, each weekend, I get to sleep in one day, and Damon gets to sleep in one day.
So, when I get up with Gage in the mornings, we usually go in the kitchen, and I clean the dishes & do random kitchen tasks....

AAAAAND....

We turn on the radio & have Dance Club, USA!
Gage loves it.

In fact, it's Gage, not Justin Timberlake, who is bringing sexy back!
He will stop in his tracks when he hears that song & just start bouncing!
He loves it.

We dance to all kinds of stuff. We dance individually. We dance together. My little one just loves to dance!!!



Pardon me for looking a little rough....but it was early in the morning...

Something funny...

Okay...this is a horrible picture...and maybe you cant decipher what I attempted to capture in photo...but, this is something I saw on my way to work this morning. I was laughing about it....



This guy was on his motorcycle. His left leg is in a cast. His crutches are strapped to the motorcycle behind him.
It was so funny. The guy was still riding his motorcycle. Just funny stuff...to me.

Sunday's Weigh In.....

Okay...so Sunday was the magical day.
On Sunday when I weighed...I was 1.4 pounds lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight.
Woohoo!
I was 110.6 on Sunday morning.

I was running late this morning, so I didnt weigh myself.
But here's what I have to say: (it's an old rap-tune...) "I rock the party that rocks the body!"

Okay..I'm just pleased with myself.

And yesterday evening...I exercised.
Yup---little sore this morning.
Hadn't worked out since June. (I've so got to change that....)

Oh---and I'm fitting into some of my 2s now.
Feeling good...

Showers, showers!

So, over the weekend I went to Natasha's (my cousin Steve's wife...) baby shower.
She's due 9/28.
:)
It's a girl!




I thought the cake table was so cute...



And I took Gage...
And he played in Aaron's play room. Aaron is the son of one of the hostesses....

He liked the Elmo doll...but even more than that, he liked this little desk & chair behind him. He would sit & stand, sit & stand, sit & stand. He thought it was so fun. It was pretty cute to watch.
And of course, Elmo had him tickled. He likes anything that sings & dances.

But...his favorite thing....was Aaron's tent. It actually folds up pretty small...it's a little pop-up tent.
Gage LOVED it.


He took that tent all over Rachel's house...




He did surprisingly well for having missed his naptime...
Don't misunderstand: he was a handful...but he was still a good boy.

And...last week at work we had Sarah's shower on 9/7/6.
I took my camera...and then the battery died. I have exactly three pictures from the shower, and none of them include the bride-to-be. How crummy is that???


This was the monogram cake from the shower...
I refrained from eating any, but I heard it was really good...

Today's Quote....

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

Community Soap

I have soap issues.

Take for example, a bar of soap.
It's in the soap holder of your shower.
You pick it up, lather it in your hands or on a loofah, or washcloth...whatever. Then you use your hands, loofah, or washcloth to disperse the soap over your body for cleansing purposes.
Great.
Then, you discover that others who use that bar of soap do not use the soap that way. They take the whole bar of soap & it travels all over their body, cleansing along the way.
I think that's gross.
Now, granted, it is soap & it's intended purspose is to clean: but, your body is "unclean" until the soap is applied & rinsed off...so in my mind, the soap bar is left dirty (even though it's soap....)

So...here's what actually prompted this post:
In the 1st floor ladies restroom of Building A in the SW Complex at school, there are two sinks. One has a liquid hand soap dispenser just to the left of the sink. The other sink has a bar of soap sitting to the right of the sink. I watch people use the community bar of soap to wash their hands.
Now, knowing that we are all in there b/c we just used the bathroom---and knowing that the person before me (if I were to pick up that bar of soap) just used the restroom--makes me think the bar of soap is really dirty. Now, after using the restroom, I can assess how unclean my hands are---but I have no idea what other people are doing in their stalls, and then they go touch that bar of soap. Gross, gross, gross. I cant bring myself to touch it. Cant do it. Seems so nasty. That's stranger bathroom funk on that bar of soap, and I'm not joining in.

Of course, I still touch the door handle to exit...so, it's probably just as nasty.
But there you have it---my soap issues.

And if you ever shower at my house, just know that the bar of soap has not travelled all over my body.

Song...

Okay, so I'm at work.
I didnt bring any CDs in to listen to...
so, I'm listening to my yahoo radio station, and a Dave Matthews Band song came on, & it's one that I've never heard. Could it be??? Could this really exist???

So anyway...it's a bit..different...perhaps a bit morbid...but, whatever. I like the song...

Here are the lyrics (b/c you know how I like to post lyrics, although the actual songs are always so much better....)

Long Black Veil

Ten years ago, on a cold, dark night
Someone was killed beneath the town hall light
There were few at the scene
But they all agreed
That the slayer who ran
Looked a lot like me

She walks these hills in a Long Black Veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

The judge said, "Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else,
Then you won't have to die."
Well, I said not a word
Though it meant my life
For I'd been in the arms
Of my best friend's wife

Oh, she walks these hills in a Long Black Veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

Oh now, the scaffold was high
Eternity is near
She stood in the crowd
And shed not a tear

Oh, sometimes at night
When the cold winds blow
In a Long Black Veil
She stands over my bones

She walks these hills in a Long Black Veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

She walks these hills in a Long Black Veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me
Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

Nobody knows but me...

Nobody knows...
Nobody knows...
Nobody knows... but me.

My Sweet Baby Boy!

So...last night Gage was super-mommy-clingy.
But...as long as I was on the living room floor playing with him, he was perfectly fine.

And...he did successfully crawl up my body & onto the couch, all by himself!

He was so proud of himself.

And then he went & got my purse (well, because I left it on the floor by the front door, rather than hanging it on the hall-tree like I usually do....)

And he drug it around the house for a while...
It was pretty cute...

Movie Reviews:
"Last Holiday" with Queen Latifah...I thought it was really cute.
"Big Night"...not liking it so much. Just started it last night, but I dont really enjoy it so far...probably won't finish it.

Books:
Aside from school text books, I havent had much time to read...but I am still working on "When Bad Things Happen to Good People". It's really good so far. I'm glad I'm reading it this year instead of last year. It's written by a man whose child died, and he just wanted to offer his opinion/explanation, as well as tell his child's story, and it talks about how unfair & unjust life can be...etc. It's good.

I have class tonight.

Words of the day.....

From Chapter one of one of my school textbooks....

Yes, I had to look these up.
Let's all expand our vocabularies today....

presage
transitive verb
1 : to give an omen or warning of : FORESHADOW
2 : FORETELL, PREDICT
intransitive verb : to make or utter a prediction

solicitude
1 a : the state of being concerned and anxious b : attentive care and protectiveness; also : an attitude of earnest concern or attention
2 : a cause of care or concern -- usually used in plural

vicissitude
1 a : the quality or state of being changeable : MUTABILITY b : natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs
2 a : a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition b : a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one's control c : alternating change : SUCCESSION

ameliorate
transitive verb : to make better or more tolerable
intransitive verb : to grow better

aphorism
1 : a concise statement of a principle
2 : a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : ADAGE

asseverate
to affirm or declare positively or earnestly

Busy MomMom

Well, I'm a busy mama now.
I work full time.
Go to school part time.
Juggle family life & party planning & yardwork...etc.

Gage's birthday is coming up...the invites have gone out...(yesterday, finally).

And of course...I've already been shopping.
And of course, I couldnt wait to give Gage his gifts, so I didnt.
I can already tell---Christmas is going to be tough too. I just dont like to wait! I want to give him his gifts right away!!!

So...he got the ride-on firetruck from babystyle (there's a babystyle store at Northpark...).
Word to the wise: pay attention to the fenders.
See, Gage's straddle is wide enough that he can sit on the seat & walk the truck forward. But...those fenders stick out & catch his heels! So, he sits on it, goes forward, catches his heels, starts crying, but keeps going. He just cries the whole time he's scooting around the house. On one hand, it's fun & he's enjoying it, but on the other hand, it hurts. So, he doesnt stop---he just cries while he goes along. It's sad & funny at the same time.
So...I put his shoes (new shoes!) on him. Thought it might help. It doesnt help too much.




This was after it caught his heel & I took him off...

Bought Gage some new shoes. They are precious. Little Converse All Star tennis shoes. Loving them!

Oh, also for his birthday....went ahead & got the zebra...
He's not so much a fan of it. I seem to like the concept of it more than he likes the actual toy.
And again, I couldnt wait to give it to him...

You may note that I dont have any pics of Gage on this toy. that's because they say it is for 1 year olds. Well, maybe since Gage is only 11 months, he's not yet ready...or maybe I just overestimated my child's balancing abilities. When you put him on this, you have to make sure that you are there to hold him in the saddle, or he'll slide right off. Yes, we learned that the hard way, and he hasnt been super-excited to get back on. But, he will go over & knock the zebra in the face to make the lights & music begin. He likes that part. Maybe he'll grow into this.

Also for his birthday I got him a firetruck outfit & set of jammies.
These things I haven't given to him yet. So I at least can hold off on some things!


Gage is so into anything musical. On Sunday, it just seemed to be our cartoon day. I woke up with him that morning, and we watched The Wiggles, and then JoJo's Circus. The Wiggles visited the NY Fire Department. And then, JoJo & her friends learned about fire safety. Do we detect a theme?? Anyway...I'm convinced that it was all arranged for Gage & his upcoming firetruck birthday party.

I'm sure I'm not the first parent to say this, but The Wiggles are completely annoying if you are a parent. But, I appreciate their ability to capture my son's attention for more than 30 seconds.
Dear Wiggles: you annoy the crap out of me, but I am so glad you exist.

We're having a wedding shower for a coworker (my office-mate) tomorrow.
That'll be good.
I have class tomorrow night.
I have a baby shower to attend on Saturday.

That's all for now.

One year without Riley.

My nephew, Riley, died one year ago today.

That night, around 7pm, my aunt stopped by my house. Pleasant surprise, I thought. But, actually--she came to give me the bad news, and apparently nobody wanted me to hear it over the phone, or be alone when I heard it. They didnt know if Damon was home from work or not.

It was on the news and ruled an accident. Apparently, during naptime, Riley went outside & locked himself in the car. He was found a couple of hours later when my brother-in-law went to wake him & his brother from their nap. He wasnt in his room, and so my brother-in-law went outside and found him in the car, locked in, sitting in his carseat. He was just sitting there--& looked like he was sleeping. My sister said they called 911 around 3 or 3:30 when they found him....but it was too late.

My sister said that they did not take Riley to a hospital & attempt to resusitate him, because paramedics were unable to do anything at the scene. My sister said that there were news crews everywhere. She said that they put Riley in a bassinet & covered him with a blanket before transporting him to the ME's office.

Services were on September 11th.
He was buried in blue jeans, a blue button up shirt, and no socks or shoes. He didnt like them!

He had blonde hair. He had this heart...he'd crawl across the room just to sit in your lap. He gave big wet sloppy kisses, and they were sometimes hurried so that he could rush off to catch up with his big brother.

I've had many a moment where I cant bear to think about him taking his last breaths by himself. I was there in the delivery room the day that baby was born. The very moment he was born. I was there for his very first breath. My sister said that she was told by someone at the scene (medical personnell--a police officer--I dont know) that he likely died in his sleep. Apparently, you get so hot & get sleepy & then just go to sleep. Is this true?? I dont know. I'd like to believe it, just as my sister would.

One of my last memories of Riley was in the pool at Camp Wanica, and he was wearing this life vest suit thing. He'd get out of the pool---run over to the fence, and then run & jump into the water.
I can picture his little bright suit, his wet hair, the water making his little arm muscles glisten as he used his strength to hold on to his mom's hands in the water as he was kicking his feet underneath...trying so hard to swim like a big boy or really, just stay afloat! It's like I can almost feel that moment in the pool... The heat of the day, the cool of the water, the energy he exerted and the excitement & contentment he expressed...

So anyway...it's been one year.
I think about him all the time.
Today is an anniversary, but it's not like I just started missing him today. It's a constant, and as I watch my child grow, I think of him & his very short life.

So today---hug your little ones----check your window locks----always lock your car doors, even if it is securely parked in a garage or driveway---or wherever!

Nana misses you Riley!

Christmas 2004


Riley's last birthday


...after yummy birthday cake!

Better Together...

So, I'm really, really enjoying my Jack Johnson CD.
Here are the lyrics from the 1st song.
It's called "Better Together"

There's no combination of words
I could put on the back of a postcard
No song I could sing
But I can try for your heart
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things
Like a, shoebox of photographs
With sepiatone loving
Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? and where do we go?
And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing its always better when we're together

[Chorus:]
MMM its always better when we're together
Yeah, look at the stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

And all of these moments
Just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that theyll be gone
When the morning light sings
And brings new things
For tomorrow night you see
That theyll be gone too
Too many things I have to do
But if all of these dreams might find their way
Into my day to day scene
I'd be under the impression
I was somewhere in between
With only two
Just me and you
Not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be
We'll Sit beneath the mango tree now

Its always better when we're together
Mmmm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

MMmmmm MMMmmmm Mmmmmm
I believe in memories
They look so, so pretty when I sleep
Hey now, and when I wake up,
You look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time,
And there is no song I could sing
And there is no, combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing
We're Better together.

Word of the Day...

Elucidate
transitive verb : to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis intransitive verb : to give a clarifying explanation

Vent...

Pardon me for a moment while I vent.

The birthday party invitations NEED to go out today.
I was going to take them to the post office yesterday, but my dear husband told me not to waste the trip---that he would take them today.
So, I put them in a shopping bag...they are all addressed...postage is properly affixed, and the bag is hanging on the doorknob that we all must turn to engage the locking/unlocking device that operates the main exit of our home.
So, did they get taken to the post office today?
No.
Someone overlooked them.
Ugh.

Welcome to Loserville....

Okay...quick post before I leave the school library.
I'm so tacky for even saying this....
I'm at the school library on a Friday night.
Welcome to Loserville.
When I was finishing up my undergrad degree here...you NEVER would have caught me in the damn library on a Friday night!
And seriously... I would love to say that I'm surrounded by Losers...but guess what?? They're probably all straight-A students.

I'll shut my mouth now.
Or rather, I'll stop typing now.
I've got other errands to run now anyway!

Oh---but a friend of mine gave me a CD today. It's Jack Johnson...I think the CD is titled "Banana Pancake"...maybe? Anyway...it's an awesome CD! So far, my favorite song is #13. I like #14 too. And #1 & #4. Okay. It's just a really good CD.
Thought I'd share.

Random things about me time....
1. My favorite color is green.
2. The theme for my wedding was "FABULOUS!" (My mom will get that...)
3. People who know me really well know that I'm an introvert. Others would probably guess extrovert...but it depends on the issues...
4. I love asparagus.
5. I want to have a Pug dog someday.
6. At one time in my life, I had a dog & boyfriend named Chris. (the dog came into my life before the boyfriend....but it was kind of funny.)
7. I was not a June bride.
8. I often call my cat, "Dickey-Doo", although that is not his name.
9. I want to visit Japan before I die.
10. My husband gave me a pair of black pearl earrings for my wedding gift---I lost one of them. (...& I confessed to this in June 2006. The earring went missing in July 2004....I wasn't super excited to relay the information...)

That's all for now!

Busy.

I've been so freaking busy today!
So busy---that I havent even had time to upload pictures of my child.
Now, that's busy.

And afterwork....
Gotta go to the cleaners...
Gotta go to Kinko's....
Gotta go to the school library...

Ugh.
Then I can go home. And---I'm not going to get out of here on time...