Life in the Village

Making a Move...

2009-01-16T21:28:00.000-08:00

I've decided to move my blog, give it a new name and look... so i hope my 5 fabulous followers will follow me on over to my new blog: confessions of a multi-tasker... seems a little more fitting of me and my life.
come on and follow me - show me some love... and i'm hoping that if you are a lurker, or a newbie - you'll start following me to - my whole goal is to get at least 4 new followers a month (that's only one a week...)

here's the new link -
http://multitaskersconfessions.blogspot.com/

see you over there!

perspective

2009-01-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

from time to time there is something that smacks me upside the head and makes me realize that there is a reason for everything.

it's really hard sometimes to put your life in perspective and realize that there is a purpose and a plan beyond what you want to happen. or what you think you deserve, don't deserve, expect... whatever. because - sometimes the thing you don't want, is what you need the most in some weird way.

sooner or later a job is going to come along - and the hubs will take it. because he has to. because he had his dream job - and sometimes, what you dream about - isn't really an ideal "dream"... sometimes what you think is great, and wonderful and perfect - really isn't. everything happens for a reason - and i'm anxious to see where this road leads us.

it's amazing how the two of us have come together during this time. it's amazing at how when you are at a low point, you have two paths to choose from - the one where you muddle through holding hands together or the one where you are opposite charged magnets, repelling each other. we've had our good moments, and we've had moments that are not so pretty... but we'll make it through. we'll push on. because we're hopefully and we both know that sooner or later, it's going to happen... and when it does, it will be good. it will be great, and we'll know that no matter what low we hit...

at least we're hitting it together. and we're holding hands while we do it.

and, as horrible as this tribulation is in our life is - it's not the worst

thing ever. there are much worse battles we could be fighting.

and that's when i realize i married an amazing man.

i married a man who i plan on being with forever.

a man who plans on stickin' with me just as long.

and i plan on being through the ups and downs of life

with him. because no matter how glum and gloomy

today is - i know with him, tomorrow will always be better.

sometimes life just shows you a bit of perspective in the

oddest of places, like when you are scrubbing a toilet or doing the dishes.

but a bit of perspective is always good.

.always.

it's just the kinda day for a big ol' bowl of soup...

2009-01-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

...this is the view from our window today...

...brrrrrrrrrr...

so, when it's that cold out - and i'm here, with babes who are snug as bugs, i turn into a super culinary genius and dive into making homemade ravioli meatball soup.

the "original" recipe comes from some random momma magazine i just got in the mail - but i don't like weepy celery in my soup and, blech, green beans are NOT made for any soup of mine!

i had to resist the urge to put potatoes in - the deciding factor to my anti-potato soup, was the fact that I put an entire bag of 4-cheese ravioli's in... and potatoes on top of that would just be just totally wrong and totally "F.A."

so here's the step-by-step approach to making my

"sNOw-way I'm going outside today" soup...

ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey breast

1 tablespoon Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

1/8 teaspoon rosemary

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14.5oz) Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes

1 can (8oz) no-salt added tomato sauce

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup diced carrots

1 package frozen mini chese ravioli

OK - LET'S GET STARTED!

1. heat the oven to 400-degrees
(i'd show you pictures of me doing all this prep-work... but i loathe my 2x2 kitchen...so i'll let you pretend that i'm cooking in a state of the art gourmet kitchen - hey a girl can dream, right?!)

(let's just say this is my kitchen, you know - for you visual people out there)

2. line a baking pan w/ aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray

3. combine turkey, bread crumbs, rosemary, pepper and salt.

4. make 48 mini-meatballs (who knew this was the most difficult part?!)

5.bake the meatballs for 12 minutes, or until nice and brown. take'em out and let'em rest.

6. in saucepan (like mine... oooh..la.la.le creuset!), combine broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and the trinity of veggies (of your choosing, really).
(and for the record - i loathe electric stoves - with the deepest passion know to woman!)

7. boil, then reduce heat

8. cover and simmer for 5 minutes

9. stir in (frozen) ravioli

10. cook, covered for 5 more minutes

11. add meatballs (if you are the hubs - you'll eat'em right off the cookie sheet)
...VOILA...

....serve tonight for dinner... (tonight's dinner! yummmm!)

Enjoy and discuss the weather...

all this soup needs now is a nice hunk of crusty, crunchy bread...

...but it's cold out... and getting crusty, crunchy bread would require

a trip OUTSIDE. where it's cold.

maybe the hubs will pick up some on his way home from his INTERVIEW!!

(it's part of the 2nd interview process @ a local company - keep your fingers crossed!)

Enjoy the snowy day.... from inside!

***update- husband picks delciously fabulous crusty sourdough loaf - big kudos to him... big kudos to me for not eating the whole loaf! he also had a great interview... it's now down to him and one other person - you know what to do!***

just another thing to do in a Level 1 snow emergency...

2009-01-15T07:02:00.001-08:00

...kids in bed, cold (bitterly cold, actually), and bored after my nightly wii-fit routine...

...this is what i do...

i've been saving the little "buttons" for something special since they are all hand-painted.

and i figured this would be a good use for them (I've had them for 3 years... it's time...).

and i handmade the pillow packs (or as my friend A. calls 'em McDonald Apple Pie packs - and that's why i love her!) and tie'd'em all up with a simple, but pretty shiny ribbon.

(bad pic, i know... it's from my cell...)

and now, the decision needs to be who gets them.

when it's snowing, and the kids are sleeping, and you are bored...

2009-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

...this is what you do....

make your really boring client notebooks into something super-de-duper cute.

problem is... now i don't want to write in them!

the other problem is... is i want to make more of them so i have notebooks for every purpose.

yes...these are the confessions of a multi-tasker.

this is what they looked like before i started them... (for those who asked!)

super simple, super cheap and a perfect way to make your desk look nice! hey- if you've gotta work - why not have it work for you?! I think I'm going to head back out to Tar-jet to pick up another 3-pack (or more) and make some more of these cute notebooks - for everything I'm working on and for cutesy valentine gifts for my friends and neighbors... I mean who COULDN'T use a notebook?!

Please pray...

2009-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

please pray for my friend J. and her son M.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewbarr

you can never have too many prayers!

yet another update...

2009-01-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

...better news than the "malarkey" i blogged late last week...

the hubs has 2 interview set up for the next two days.

company 1 is an association

company 2 is a nice big ol' c.bus company and these are the 2nd (and hopefully the final) round o' interviews.

as for me - i have two SIGNED clients and i'm getting back in the swing o'things.

(not sure why everything is ol' or o' today... it just feels right and i'm ok with that!)

I've also started the Special K 2-week challenge. hmm... we'll see about that... I mean a cup of cereal and a piece of fruit is hardly a breakfast. can I have coffee? Can I have orange juice... or do i just eat Special K for meal 1, and meal 2 and then two snacks of special k? hmm... that's a whole lotta Special K. I may get grouchy... forgive me now!

Have a good day... and keep the hubs in your prayers!

xo

you know you're doing something right...

2009-01-13T04:52:00.000-08:00

the hubs needed to make a stop at an old co-workers last night... so we bathed and pj-ed both kids, warmed up their sippy cups of milk and trekked out.... well, and i needed to find a store where i could pick up steno notepads, special k diet goodies (we'll see about the "goodies" part in about 3 days) and baby orajel toothpaste ... hence, walmart (groan!).

we knew we were pressing our luck with miss sassafrass...anything past 7:30 pm and it's holy guacamole in our back seat.

we were fast approaching that breaking point.

the hubs and i, for some random reason decided that *tonight* would be the night to take the cheshire road route...a route we've only heard about and never taken...

MISTAKE. yeh...mistake with ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!

about 10 minutes from home, while we're lost somewhere between here and there in the middle of a little neighborhood who knows where... Miss Sassafrass lets it all out... and well... that's that at this point - the milk cup is empty, the snackies are done, the dvd playing in the backseat is not entertaining... and it's 7:50...

i'm trying my best, all contorted backwards in the suv to try to comfort the little miss - and well, i'm trying is all i can say!

then...a defining moment - when all my worry of "doing it right" as a parent is demolished... because Master D reaches over (in attempts to pet sissy and comfort her) and in his most sweetest, most wonderfulness, most adorable moment says....

"it's gonna be right sissy - we're gettin' you home soon.... don't cry sissy, don't cry"....

my heart melts... because Master D is my sweet, kind, sensative child and hearing those words and witnessing that gesture makes you know that... gosh, darn it... you are doing something right!

where does the time go?

2009-01-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

master d was up to something the other day... i don't remember exactly what he was up to ... but it was something where his back was to me.
and it was at that very mini-moment that i realized my itty bitty baby boy... was turning into a person. a real, live, boy. he's so independent and smart and funny and kind and every wonderful thing a person could possess. when did that all happen and what was i doing? it's like one day you are nursing them to sleep in the hospital on their first day and the next you are dealing with a mister man...

i look at miss sassafrass and everyday she gets sweeter and cuter and more edible. (ohhhh.... those cheekers get me!) and i relize she's 1. and will be 2... and it won't be that long before she's doing something and i realize that babies aren't living in my house anymore. she's starting to understand things and if i say "can you get momma that duckie" she says "quack,quack,quack" and goes to get the duck. she communicates and points and laughs and tags along with master d.

wasn't it just yesterday i was holding her on her very first day? wasn't it just the day before yesterday that i took a pregnacy test and realized that i was pregnant...again?
and then i start to think back to the early days of the hubs and i. and it blows my mind that i was 21 when we met.

we were young. and stupid. and fun. and crazy

and in love. lovelovelovelove.

we're still in love. probably more than we were way back then.but the crazy and fun turned into responsiblities and questions and dealings and all those things that come with being in the real world. and to being parents. and, being responsible... and real. and in charge of something more than just you and the 12 pack of nattie light

you're carrying to the kegger at the "hot" frat party of the weekend or and in charge of more than just deciding on what bar would be the bar of the night. i love what i have...but what i wouldn't give to go back -just for a fleeting moment...

go back to day one with the hubs...
standing under the student center archway at KSU, talking, flirting...

not knowing what would be...

go back to holding a baby boy in my arms...

to holding a baby girl in my arms....

the potential each of those moments inspires...and makes me appreciate the fleeting moments I'm living as I breathe.

where does the time go?

GOJO and NOJO(b)

2009-01-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Update....short and brief b/c my heart hurts...

The job at GoJo is a no go. They claim that the hubs was great...amazing...wonderful...talented... but that they hired someone

with a "better understanding of marketing framework"

ok - venting for a moment...

The term "marketing framework" doesn't even exisit... it's totally a made up gojo term. so... how is someone from OUTSIDE the company suppose to understand the inside lingo?

Whatever... He's better than GoJo any way, any day...

the right job is out there... back to the drawing board (or job search engine)

Keep our family in your prayers and thoughts... every little bit helps!

your one stop shop for the village family's job update...

2009-01-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

time to get it off my chest.

i'm tired of people asking if the hubs has heard anything yet.

no.

he hasn't.

b/c it's been like 2 weeks of holidays and that means people in the real-world are busy, working, or taking time off to do last minute holiday shopping or cooking or whatever... but typically, they aren't in their cubbys at work, checkin' their inboxes and hiring peeps.

and....

believe me - when he does... i'm climbing to the top of our house and screaming it to the world. well, if it's good news (which, using the teachings of the secret, it will be). which will also be a big deal for me considering i'm petrified to death of heights.

so, if you were thinking about asking. here's the details.

Job 1 - Canton job - not doing anything until after the holiday. not a technical "freeze" on the position but it's in a holding pattern until 2009 makes it's debut.

Job 2 - Akron job - feelin' good about it. thinkin' positive. gots lots of ju-ju and mo-jo workin' for him in the position. he's calling tomorrow to follow up. here's hoping!

Job 3 - Columbus job - no word. following up tomorrow re: 2nd interview.

However, the hubs does have an interview in C.bus tomorrow AM.

And in doing all the "secret" techniques and thinking positive...

the best part is there are 4 jobs I've just listed...

and none of them have rejected him...

that's a good thing...

b/c it means he's still in the running...

for america's next top model...

ok - just kidding...

but he's still a contender...

and i really like to believe that my hubs is just too good to pass up.

{i married the fellow, right?!}

if a company does... then maybe there's something really wrong

with that company.

on my job front -

i've signed one client, a children's author, who actually is an alum from my high school... in like 1960. he's really a neat guy and i'm excited about all the cool things i'm working on for him. considering that i can learn a lot from him on the publishing front for children's books. and he writes about animals which i think is very neat - i'm hoping that some of his Cbus Zoo connections work out so that i get to meet some of the cool people associated with the Cbus Zoo (because it is one of my top 5 favorite places in Cbus!).

i've sent the letter of agreement contract to my new "big" client and i'm really excited about working with them. it's a great atmosphere and the people are really down-to-earth and wonderful. so, here's hoping and praying that that goes well too!

my friend, just surprised me and said she and her hubs are planning a golf tourney... which are one of my favorite kinds of events to plan... so, i'm hoping i have the chance to help out... plus it's for a great cause VERY close to her heart (and mine too :} )

my other gal pal hasn't gotten back to me to set up a time to chit chat about her new business venture... and i'm really hoping that i get to work on it with her - because i love her and really want her to succeed!

the village opportunity is neither here nor there ... i'm calling tomorrow on it. i'm really hoping it pans out be it for the whole village square thing or just the one boutique.

i also just found this A-DOR-ABLE "bakery" in the Cbus area that i would love to assist w/ their pr and marketing... sent an email and hoping for a call back.

hmm... looks like my goal of 5 clients may happen way before i thought it would!

yay!

so - No - the hubs hasn't heard anything back - he's just waiting out the first day back from vacation, where inboxes are overflowing and the peeps are getting their groove back after vegging and travelling and eating waaaaaaaaayyyyy too much!

(keep us in your prayers... they'll be answered b/c we believe)

why i love my wii

2009-01-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

wii's are fun.
plain and simple.
it makes my husband smile.
which is good when our house is brimming with stress
due to a certain job situation.
it makes me smile.
it makes me skinny. okay - not just yet... but it will make me skinny if i keep it up... my wii fit board character told me so... not in so many words but... ya' know... whatever.

wii's get us up off our bottoms once the kids are in bed. at a time when typically it's so much easier to just veg. b/c darn it... 2 kids under 3 run you ragged.

so - that is why i love my wii... and why i want more movin & groovin' games for the wii... have any suggestions?

plus - its fun to make the little mii's. during miss sassafrass' nap today, master d and i made mii's for both the hubs and my families. oh yeah... and barack obama for a little fun.

the R-word

2009-01-01T18:08:00.001-08:00

i don't like the word resolutions.

because to me - you make resolutions for a few weeks, a few months even...

then they stop.. resolutions in my mind are meant to be broken!

so every nye i set 10 "goals" for myself.

some are huge while others are more for the humor than any actual effort...

this year's goals are pretty simple. i'll share b/c maybe if you catch me not doing one

of them - you'll kick my hiney and get me back on track... sometimes i stray...
1. be mighty fine in 2009

i would really like to lose 15 pounds by June (aka the sistah's wedding) ...this shouldn't be that hard since the hubs and i have started a diet based on calories and exercise. and... we got a wii & wii fit and i will start zumba sooner or later. buh-bye budungadonk ... hello bootylicious...
2. make time for date night once a month.
ok - humor me here... date night doesn't mean that we have to get all dressed up, make rezzies and go out. date night strickly means a night where said hubs and i unplug, de-stress and spend time together. be it out and about or in our own living room. this also means i need to land a babysitter that i 1.) trust 2.) can afford along with the cost of the "date" 3.) trust {did i say that already?}. this also means making an effort to do those things i use to do before a date to get ready - and it means the same for the hubs. it's so easy to loose that luv when you are pre-occupied
3. pray
i think prayer is important. and i want to make a serious effort to involve prayer in my life more than just at bedtime. i've always been so inspired by people who pray / meditate/ whatever when they need to release, are seeking support, etc. i want to appreciate my religion and become more active in the church. i also want to be better at praying - not just asking for something, but being thankful and feeling blessed for what the Lord provides me with. which also means that i need to make a more dedicated effort to head to church on the weekend, which is difficult (God knows, right?!) when you have to "ready" the whole kit-n-kaboodle. i'm gonna work on it.... so help me God!
4. write for ME at least once a week.
i love to write - i write this blog. i keep 2 individual journals for both babes. i write for my business/career....but i rarely take time to write for me. i have books of poetry from high school and college. i have every diary i've ever kept since i started in 2nd grade. i've written 3 children's books that i'm to chicken to get published (working on this...working on it). but it's been a long time since i wrote something beyond the blog or media release related... 2009 is the year to produce some "works". it upsets the hubs to see all my talent going un- used (working on this ... working on it!).
5. exercise.
zumba. wii. chasing 2 kids. seriously though... i want to be more "active"... taking walks... when weather permits, hiking in nice weather... not just alone but with my family. i'm not a very athletic person... but i inspire to be. i inspire to lose the tub-o-lard circling my waist. so help me wii... soooooo help me... i want my kids to love being active and outdoors. and that doesn't happen if i don't love being active and outdoors. plus - i even dvr'd biggest losers: couples because it seems like it might be inspirational for the hubs and i ... we're hardly *that* overweight... but if people who are more overweight than i can do it... then i need to be motivated to do it too!
6. gain 5 clients for my business by the start of 2010.
i'm off to a good start. so far i've contracted one (a children's author) and have 2 in the
works... one is HUGE-NOR-MOUS. and the other is an up-and-coming consumer game
company that has tons-o-potential. i'd love to work with my brother-in-law's practice and add them to my roster along with something food-related... maybe even an event or two. on a business note - i'd also like to learn photoshop / illustrator etc. to add the graphic element to my offerings... we'll see... we'll see! i also want to make more of an effort to pitch myself to businesses and organizations. which means i need a little bit of a re-vamp because i'm not 100% happy with the logo, colors etc. and when you aren't happy with those - it's really hard to commit to letterhead, website design and business cards... which are all parts of getting new business...
7. pay it forward.
I want to make a whole-hearted effort in my life to give. give kindness, give gifts, give sweet words, give friendship, give to those who need... etc. everyday i'm going to try to give in one way or another - big or small...
8. shut'yur mouth.
Simply said - I sometimes have a very un-lady like mouth. eek! I hate it. But, I'm a
passionate person... sometimes words just spew like lava from Vesuvius from my mouth. and regret, my friends, is no-friend'o mine... so - deep breath in, deep breath out. swearing and cussing are no longer an option... plus - i'm smarter than cussing... i know lots of other adjectives that are more appropriate than all those 4-letter words.
9. realize that i am not the general manager of the universe.
I don't know it all. I don't want to do it all. and i don't want to worry about it all... I can't control it all - and i shouldn't get worked up when it just doesn't go my way. sometimes, most of the times actually, it's better to let "The Big Guy" worry about it. He knows what he's doing... and i'm just going to let him have his job back.
10. be positive.
like everyone - i have a little green-eyed monster that rears her ugly head when i get tired, when i get moody or when i just gosh-darn-feel-like bringing her out. it's not becoming. but - it's the God-honest truth...and i know i'm not alone in saying that i have this baggage... for me she rears her nastiness in negative, snippy, flaky-valley girl comments. ugh.goodness gracious... it's just not nice. i hate when i do it... and so now - in 2009 - when i feel that snippy snotty high school drama queen making her debut... i am going to BREATHE BREATHE BREATHE... and say something positive. When the hubs in breathing down my neck in my 2x2 kitchen - I'm going to BREATHE BREATHE BREATHE and give'em a kissaroo...

So that's that... hopefully I'll look back at this next year and be like --- yay for me! i did it.

here's hoping you all have good stick-to-it-niv-ness and turn those resolutions into goals for 2009.

Cheers!
Happy New Year!

xo

2008...

2008-12-31T15:01:00.000-08:00

this year i...

...started the new year in a new house, with a new baby
...left behind clients
...started anew in the village
...missed family
...missed friends
...made new friends
...nursed a baby
...inspired a toddler
...supported a husband
...took our first family vacation
...bloggity-blogg blogged
...got a piano
...took a 5 am exercise class
...chopped my hair off
...mourned said hair
...learned how powerful the words "i love you mommy" really are
...read the twilight saga in 4 days
...celebrated a 1st b-day
...celebrated a 2nd b-day
...celebrated a 30th b-day
...celebrated the hubs 31st b-day with a layoff
...assisted in a presentation for a potential job
...wished, prayed, hoped
...waited (and still waiting...) for word on jobs
...loved
...loved
...loved

it's been a good year.
here's to 2009 being even better!

In Master D's words.... Happy New Year Anybody!

Be Safe!

xo

30 is....

2008-12-30T20:23:00.000-08:00

30 is...

... feeling comfortable in your own skin...

...realizing you can do whatever you put your mind to...

...being surrounded by loving friends and family...
...knowing you deserve to be happy...

turning 30 is a celebration of the free-to-be-yourself decade!

my most favorite and most inspiringly strong village friend J. sent me the card i quoted above. she's so sweet!

and i can't think of a more perfect way to organize the thoughts i have for the next decade of my life.

it's those 4 items that are my working points for the changes i wish to see in my life. some will be easier, others will be a struggle. but each point will be the chance to be the better person, to be a smarter person and to be a happier person.

so... i'm 30 now.

i just caught my reflection in the window over the sink while i was doing the dishes and realized 'holy cow - that's me, and i'm 30...' and i shed a tear or two. b/c damn.... that's old (j/k)... seriously - because i'm 30. and that's a powerful thing for me. not that there really is any reason to be moved by a number. or by a date. but - 30 has always been the age where i figured i'd have it all together.

and well... yah.... we're still working on that... ;)

i started today off with a new hair cut - nothing too crazy... just a trim to look fresh and clean. being a hair virgin (never dyed my hair - never highlighted my hair...) i'm contemplating a few strategically placed highlights - but we'll see... then the SIL and i went out for a martini lunch at Molly Woos... where i had the most wonderful drink (bamboo stick martini - yum-o) and an even more fabulous on-the-house-birthday-dessert... spring roll bananas with peanut butter and vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and peanuts (i knew there was something good about turning 30!)

we shopped until we dropped and i used holiday money for a fabulously comfy outfit from the G-A-P... obviously the G-A-P knows that it's time to celebrate and they've re-released GRASS perfume spray in their stores just in time for my 30th b-day... it's my most favorite smell EV-AH and well... if you are still shopping for my b-day and need a quicky gift... Grass Spray from Gap. YAH! i will love you forever.

My mission was the above outfit and a pair of boots - but i'm too picky and couldn't find *exactly* my dream boot with the *dream* price - so, I think I'll forgo the husband's gift and use that $ towards the purchase of a wii (and wii fit, hopefully). which now means that i've become a tar-jet and tru stalker seeking out the wii.

i ended the day with grocery shopping - which, in my opinion is the best chore ever. the hubs and i have decided that the lbs need to come off - and so, i'm trying some new recipes, re-adjusting our staples and totally avoiding the center aisles and only purchased from the outside rim of the store

(where all the fresh items are located)...

30 has been good to me, so far.

i'm really looking forward to 30 +1 .... we're ringing in the new year on our living room floor in front of the fire with a bottle of wine and sushi... while the bebes dream sweet new year dreams.

i feel like i should have some profound statement for the end of today.

some words of wisdom that come with being "older and wiser"

but really i don't. and there is like 15 minutes left of my birthday... and i'm thinking there

really is a better way to celebrate that besides blogging about it ;)

it's good to be 30. it's good to have what i have.

30 isn't just a celebration for me - it's a celebration

of me and what i've done with my life in the past 30 years...

and quite honestly - i think i've been pretty successful...

and then there was 30...

2008-12-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

i remember when i was 10, thinking - i'm 20 years away from 30.

then at 15, i remember thinking - i'm half way to 30.

then at 20, it was 10 years....

to me - 30 always seemed so magical.

maybe it was because my 30th birthday falls on the 30th.

therefore, it's my golden birthday....and well, that just seems

like it might be worth something, say a big party, or an ipod

classic or a vacation to jamaica.

but - to me, as a 1o-year old, a 15-year old, a 20-year old... my 30 year old self was going to "be something".

my vision of my life was meeting mr.right in college (check), married by 25 (check) and baby one by 27 (check) and baby two somewhere between 27 and 30 (check).

and then there was 30.

30 to me seems like such a milestone in your life.

30 is like your opportunity to chalk up the past 30 years to being nieve, to being stupid, to making mistakes and learning from them. then the magic 30 comes along and it's your chance to set it straight, re-organize and proceed.

i still believe that.

i am really looking forward to re-discovering who I am.

i'm thinking about taking time tomorrow to sit down and write out a "game plan" for my life. what my goals are. what my dreams are. what i want to accomplish for me.

not the 'me' that's a mom - not the 'me' that's a wife or a sister or a daughter or a friend.

but the me that makes me happy and makes my life a good one.

the past 30 years have had their share of ups and downs

of tears and heartache and sadness

of laughter and love and happiness.

and i'm ready to take the lessons i've learn

and apply them to my future.

so - if you are 30, and can offer advice please do.

if you are younger than me - save the 'old' jokes and give me a little love.

i'm celebrating the day with a hair appointment at 9, lunch and shopping with

my sister in law (it's a big girl lunch... no babies allowed!!!) and then lots of

hugs and kisses from my bittybabies.

i really kicked off the eve with a visit for my 'annual' dr. appt.

and finishing up laundry, dishes, swapping out bed sheets and

a handful of finding nemo fruit snacks...

oh yeah... totally how everyone should celebrate their 30th!

i also decorated my kitchen for me.

it's a sad decorating job - but ya know...

it's 30. and that happens once.

cheers to 30!

may the next 30 be just as magical!

xo to me!

Hurry Up and WAIT!

2008-12-22T17:23:00.000-08:00

The Hubs had his 2nd interview for the company that is 1 mile from our old house.

This was the 5 hour interview.

He met with 4 of the executives, then had to give

the MOTHER of all presentations.

I am very proud of him for all his hardwork

on this presentation. I know I'm biased but - my hubs is one talented guy (and he's smart

too... because he married moi!)...

So now... we wait. WAIT.

The best part was that the "highest ranked" executive

he met with today also happens to know

my obgyn - the man who delivered both

babes and has become a family friend

(and was friends w/ my SIL pre-babes).

They're buds, pals... so a recommendation

from Dr. to Exc. is happening

(hopefully as I type b/c nothing would be

a better Christmas and Birthday present than

a job! And a job back in NEO would just

knock my socks off!)

Whoot!

I hate waiting. I'm not good at it! I'm not patient.

There... I said it!

Fingers crossed and prayers said - :)

somedays...

2008-12-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

~nice shiner Miss Bruiser...nice shiner!

somedays

i just don't feel

like i deserve

motherhood.

like i'm not good enough

at it.

or good enough for my babes.

somedays

i don't feel like

anything goes right...

that i do anything right...

that i missed a mom-memo

about how things should go.

somedays your baby girl

falls face first into a

ledge.

screams bloody murder

for 4 minutes.

has a goose-y egg that blows up

right before your eyes

and is left looking like

BRUISER

instead of Miss Sassafrass.

and then you are just happy that

someday

is today and not earlier last week

before her 1st birthday party.

or tuesday...as in 1st birthday picture day.

somedays you are thankful that

it's this someday and not that someday.

somedays you fall from

the same {stupid} ledge

into "mount everitt" of laundry

needing to be folded

and twist your ankle.

and just cry about it.

because it feels right.

somedays you just

feel like a nut

somedays you don't.

no one said

motherhood

was glamorous.

and glamorous - it is not!

the proof is that i'm wearing a

pair of yoga workout sweats circa

2001 and a fleece circa

pregnancy of 2006 and 2007 .

hotttttt.

on the eve of one

2008-12-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

"Edelweiss, edelweiss, every morning you greet me
small and white,clean and bright,you look happy to meet me
blossom of snow may you bloom and grow,bloom and grow forever
edelweiss, edelweiss, bless my sweet girl forever."

~nattie's good night song

~Dear Birthday Girl~

A year ago tonight I was big. and fat. and big. and very pregnant. and very uncomfortable.

But - beyond all of that - I was happy. And that's what matters the most. Happy.

I was happy because growing in me was you.

my little girl. the second child I always dreamed of.

I sub-conciously knew that someday I would have your brother and then have you. Because that's what I always wanted - a big brother for my little girl.

And then there was you.

From the moment we found out about you.

and that you're ETA was Christmas Day. I knew. I knew. You were my girl.

Only God would give me a girl so near my birthday.

Because, having a holiday birthday is rough.

But having you - having you to share a birthday month with - makes it all better.

You are my best birthday gift.

The day you arrived was cold. We drove from here to there.

sandwiched between a snow storm and an ice storm.

You wanted out. I wanted my doctor, who was stuck in a snow/ice storm.

I focused and at 4:12. 12 minutes after Dr. F arrived - you arrived.

perfect. pretty. mine.

You are my breath of fresh air. My dainty girl. My happy girl. My Girl.

The second day in the hospital it was just me and you.

The Boys were at Grandma and Grandpa's. And it was just us.

We snuggled. You nursed. I loved up on you something fierce.

I cried. Because you completed our family. Perfectly.

I cried...

Because God knew I needed you.

I cried....

Because God knew you were mine.

I cried...

Because God knew that I had a special spot in my heart

that could only be filled with the likes of you.

and I felt blessed.

and rewarded.

and unbelievably lucky that I had two beautiful kids.

dear little one, my wishes for you are simple,

they will forever be the same every year on your birthday.

Remember...

dream big.

love big.

be kind.

be real.

learn.love.dance.laugh.cry. read. believe.
know you are loved.

be proud of you.

value friends.

respect yourself.

Happy First Birthday Sweet Girl

xoxo

All my love

~mommy

Dear Birthday Fairy

2008-12-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

(in an email sent to specific friends & family members who just may be in the market for a certain someone's {cough*cough*me*} 30th birthday present... )

Dear Birthday Fairy -

These are cute...

just sayin'...
and i will only be 30 once.

and it is my golden birthday.

and they'd go cute with this coat

i'd like too..
it's cold in ohio.

really cold.
and i don't own a coat.

not a single coat.

seriously.

and you are only 30 once.

Love, Megan
{read like the girls on ANTM say "love, tyra"}

P.S. I'd also like a pair of Levi's Skinny Jeans and a variety of turtleneck

sweaters and cute vests from landsend.com

You can tell Santa if you see him.

remember... I'm only 30 once.
once.once.once.

rinse.lather.repeat.

2008-12-08T16:46:00.001-08:00

as a mom - do you ever feel like this is your day?

wake up - very early

take 1/2 a shower

(like only one leg gets shaved and conditioner never gets rinsed out)

diaper change

feed

unload dishwasher

diaper change

snack

pick up toys

load dishwasher

bring down 8 loads of laundry from yesterday

wash laundry

nap

half-way watch something dvr'd

feed

pick up toys

diaper change

dinner

dinner dishes

pick up toys

bathtime

fold laundry

rinse

lather

repeat

pick up toys

put laundry away

comfort

sooth

tuck yourself in

comfort, sooth - the minute you pull the covers up over your head

dream about patrick dempsy for 3.2 minutes

wake and repeat.

ok - just checking... because that's a lot like my days.

**good news though - looks like i may have 2 new clients on the horizon! yipee... we'll add that goodness into the mix! whooooooot whoooot! **

** more good news - the Hubs has a 2nd interview with the company 1.7 miles from the old home.

whoot! whoot! **

daily mantra from master d.

2008-12-08T05:24:00.000-08:00

sometimes kids say the most profound things.

something that makes you stop and say...

why,yes... little one, you are right, thank you for being the

adult in this situation...

...today's example...

Master D reminded me to

"just be patient mommy - just be patient"

and he's right.

there are so many things in life that i can't control - i can't push through faster to get the outcome or manuevre in my pr maverick-y ways to get it to happen (yah... i love using "maverick-y").

so - with potty training (we're working on it, so far... so good) and teething (lawdsy, help the chile. 4 teeth at once?!) and the job (soon...soon....soon) and well, just everything else in life -

just be patient mommy... be patient.

good advice, little punk. good advice!

we may not be rich with money - but we're rich in love...

2008-12-06T20:01:00.001-08:00

my family didn't have a lot of money when i was growing up. and especially after the divorce - things were tight - but it never mattered, because i was raised with that mantra "we may not be rich with money - but we'll always be rich with love". i always thought it was cheesy to say - but believed it, none-the-less.

my family always pulled through for each other - if winter coats weren't on the budget, well than grandma and grandpa picked up the tab. if times were tough, family members showed up on your doorstep with a grocery sack of food (including the "special treats" that typically get cut when money's tight). i believe i have one of the most generous families. and it's not in humoungous gestures of giving - it's in the small, thoughtful acts of giving that are meant to go unnoticed.

i have a memory - that takes place in tower city - bustling with holiday shoppers. tower city was "the" place to go before legacy, easton, crocker park etc... and we went to see santa, and the choreographed water fountain that danced along to holiday music. we went to oooh and aaaah over the holiday decorations ....we also went to see mr. jing-a-ling... which i'll post about in an upcoming blog post {because that too is a great holiday memory}.

it was a cold-cold-cold day near the lake, because i remember my mom bundling the three of us up after a lunch of micky d's - and telling us that at least we had gloves and hats to keep us warm when the weather was so cold! as she said this in walked a family similar to ours - 3 little kids and a mom. and then my mom did the most wonderful thing i ever remembered...

she bought their family lunch at mcdonalds.
a small gesture costing her no more than $10.
and it's that gesture that has been imprinted in my mind all these years...

no matter how tough it is for you - there is someone out there who has it worse. who doesn't have a family - who doesn't have gloves and warm coats - a house and a nice comfy bed with stuffed animals waiting to snuggle with.

and it was a lesson i learned early in my life. a lesson i've kept with me my whole life and a lesson that i am grateful for learning - because now i know the importance of family and love and giving to give. i am blessed to have a mother who is so compassionate and caring. she was a wonderful teacher (and still is) for me.

it's a lesson i've begun teaching my son at the tenderly sweet age of almost 3. a lesson i hope, as my sensative child, fills him with the joy and love and happiness that giving fills me with.

this christmas is tight for us - with the recent lay off due to workforce restructuring we've decided to cut back gifts - but it's not horrible, because we'll still have family members to celebrate with. we'll stuff ourselves silly when my dad (the best "chef" ever in my eyes) makes the most perfect meal ever for christmas eve and we'll be high off sugar from grandma's homemade cookies on christmas morning. there are people/families out there who will be alone, hungry and sad. there are people out there who are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families, and i'm hoping that 2009 will be the year it happens for them.

flash forward to the present day - the village's MOMS group adopted a family for the holidays... she's 19. with a 3 yr old and a 3 mo. old. she just moved from a domestic violence shelter. the MOMS group donates money and then we collect things like gently used toys, clothes, books etc. to give as well. my heart breaks for her - she's young. she's trying. she doesn't want to slack - so she moves from the shelter into an apartment to get on her own two feet and raise her girls. i am impressed, and inspired and amazed at her determination - and again, it was a flashback to the "tower-city memory" - here's a woman very similar to me - a mom, with small kids. and i couldn't help but go back in time and remember the kind acts of my mother.

to me it was the perfect opportunity to pay it forward - to give and to teach giving to master d. we went through the toy room and the bookshelf and donated the toys and books we'd loved but outgrown. I gathered up some of my pre-pregnancy jeans and shirts (that lawdsy knows i won't be back in -- ever) and packaged up a care kit for the 19 year old mom. i put together a basket with master d of things for the baby - things that miss sassafrass out grew even before she ever wore them.

i wish i could have gone to kohls or target or macys and bought everything a family needs - new clothes, new shoes - coats, boots... books and toys ... all the things that children deserve. and wrapped them up perfectly for this woman who is trying to get out and get away from whatever evil was pursuing her and her beautifully innocent babes. (but i did enter a contest online to win some fab-u HP computer goodies - the catch being you get to share, in which case, i'm hoping to win and share with this momma). (you can enter on merlot mom, too)

but - this is where the lesson starts -
sharing. giving. caring.
this is what the holidays are about.
hopefully - this has inspired you - pay it forward - donate - blog about something good you've done.
go out and do something nice because of my post (then comment to let me know you did something nice, it'll make my day, then you'll have done 2 nice things!)...

it's all about karma people... all about karma!

a slip of the tounge...

2008-12-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

oh yeah... it happened today. officially.

master d repeated a not so nice comment using choice words

(namely the dreaded f-bomb)

{which, as a side note, is not something we sling around here in the village}

and, i'd like to note here - that it was not from my mouth.

which only leaves one mr.hubs as the potty-mouth-party named above.

loud and clear.

loud. and. clear.

i couldn't help but laugh so hard i cried...

and then, we ignored the whole thing... and made a mental note

DON'T SAY ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT REPEATED.

there's something absolutely devestating to hear such horribly

ugly words roll off the tounge of your sweet little baby.

how do you measure a year in the life?

2008-12-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

it's been exactly one year to the date that we moved into the house in the village. 9 months pregnant and all. 22 month old in tow. boxes and boxes and boxes of kitchen goodies that don't fit in the new kitchen. it took us 4 hours to put the kitchen stuff away. the rest of the house was easy... it was that darn kitchen that got us. it was the contractions that I was sure would end me up in the hospital the day after we moved in here (thank goodness miss sassafrass gave me 2 weeks to "settle" before arriving!)

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

it's hard to believe we've seen 4 season here. we've had good times, and the not-so-good times. we've laughed and cried and loved and fought... because we're human - and married with 2 kids under 3... it's what we do. and we do it well!

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

and it's hard to believe that right now, at this very moment the hubs is back up in NEO... 1.7 miles from our old (my beloved, old century home that we renovated when it was just us two) home for a 4 hour interview. does anyone else see irony in this? okay... good we're all on the same page here.

How about love?

Measure in love.

the house in the village is a beautiful, newly built house - safe in the folds of life in the village. neighbors, normal neighbors, all around us. suvs in the driveways - minivans fully loaded - amish-built playsets clutter the backyards.sidewalk chalk drawings welcome visitors. school buses pick up and drop off kids precisely enough that you can set your watch to it. {do people set watches anymore?!} perfectly manicured yards where neighbors spend saturday and sundays tending to weeds. holiday decorations twinkle and sparkle and spread holiday cheer - the day after halloween. it's a sweet, sweet place to raise your family, a sweet place to be a family. and... we have a new kroger. with really good sushi and whimsical whoopie pies.

Seasons of love.

it's the house where we brought home our bitty baby girl, introduced her to her big brother, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, buckeye wins and school bond sucesses.

it's where my son slept in his big boy bed for the first time, and where miss sassafrass took her first steps. it's where i planted my first pumpkins and carved them for halloween.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan.

525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

it's the house we packed up and headed off from for our first official family vacation. it's where we lived for a week without electricity due to a hurricane... in Ohio.

In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

it's the house where i've realized that being a mom is a hard job. being married is a hard job. but both are worth it - hundred thousand billion times worth it. it's where my husband was laid off from the job that brought us down here. where we figured it all out - TOGETHER. it's the house where we opened the doors to family and friends - to celebrate and share. it's the house where we learned to be thankful for us.

It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends.

so here's to whatever the future holds... be it a move to neo or 1,051,200 minutes of life in the village house.

Remember the love!

Measure in love.

cheers!

Seasons of love! Seasons of love.

i've got a lot to be thankful for...

2008-11-29T17:38:00.000-08:00

i feel a little behind, you know with the whole 'what i'm thankful for' blog...

but, better late than never, right?!

we've been a busy family. up to neo then back home to the c.bus, a day to tidy the house (read: shove all the toys from the dining/toy room in to the office and then set up the dining room table back in said dining room like it's been there all along) and shop for and prepare a fabulous saturday-after-turkey-day meal.

yah. busy. plus we have teeth coming in at full throttle -

those babies should be in by tuesday at the rate they're pushing!

but, i think it's important not only on thanksgiving to state what it is that makes you a thankful person... there is a lot in the world that can get'cha down - the hubs and i always make it a point before we close are eyes at night to mentally recognize what those things are. sometimes we share - other times, we just keep them to ourselves (mainly b/c we're half asleep anyway!)

so here it goes. i'm going to try to be a little "outside the box" with my list - since obviously it's right to be thankful for things like good healthy, loving families, roof over our head,

wonderful children etc. etc. and so on...

~so~

i'm thankful for the hubs - his dedication and determination to provide for our family is amazing. i admire him for his drive. i am amazed at how much he has to offer the world - as a person, as a husband and father and as a professional. i am also thankful that he kills the monster spiders in the basement and takes the trash out. he's also pretty 'handy manny' around the house and a good kisser... eh, i'll keep him!

i'm thankful for the kiddos - master d and miss sassafrass. i am so blessed by these two little critters than run the show here in our household. i'm thankful that i'm the witness to their discoveries, experiences and to their 'tumbleweed antics" that usually happen after dinner on a daily basis. i'm so proud of them of all the potential they have to be the who they're meant to be. i know that they're up to something good. i'm blessed with a boy and a girl and am excited about all the things i'll get to experience with each of them. i have a feeling it's going to get interesting!

i'm thankful for my parents and my grandparents for loving and caring for me. not only during the times that it was easy to...but, more importantly for the times when i wasn't so pleasant - oh, say from about 15 until 21. {give or take a few years}. i'm thankful for the love i feel when i'm around them and how my mom, once the babies are in bed, remembers that i am still her 'baby' and smoothers me in all that good-momma affection. and for my dad...who stepped up and took on 3 teenagers. the guy's a brave, brave man...and a great cook too! and for my grandma... who, recently said that it was important to make sure i had ice cream in my freezer so that i wouldn't have to do without... yep - that's where i get it from! oh, and my crappa (my grandpa) - who i still think is the most awesomely intellegent man IN THE WORLD.

(doesn't everyone always think they're pops is the smartest... well... mine really is!)

i'm thankful for my sister and brother - for keeping the secrets this long... now that 2 of the 3 of us have hit the "no-longer-living-under-my-roof" part of the threats from mom, it's getting fun to pull out the stories in front of mom and let her in on our secrets. good times... i am thankful for my sis for being my best friend and for always knowing what i need. be it a hug - a good laugh or a big ol' cuppa starbucks chai. i'm thankful for my baby brothers, one for giving my sis and i something to laugh about/at, two for thinking i'm the best research paper-author in the whole wide world and three for always being the comic relief i need when the world's on attack. everyone needs a little brother... {and thankful for jeremy, my sister's hubby to be, because my sister told me to be thankful for jeremy...oh yeah... and we talk food.}

i'm thankful for my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, so on-so forth) - because family means the world to me. and i know i'm biased but i think i have a pretty fun family. though my cousins are younger by over 10 years - we still are close. each one of them is so amazing - be it athletically or acdemically or just because they are making the world a better place by just being who they are. i'm super lucky to have such a great bunch o' nuts in my family tree.

i'm thankful for my "in-law" side of the family - who scooped me up and loved me up the minute the hubs brought me home. i'm thankful for each detail they bring to the table, for the memories we have and the laughs we've shared (mostly at my expense). most of all i'm thankful because without them - i'd have me no hubs.

and he's a good thing. i'm thankful for my SIL's spinach dip (which i am munching on as i type) and the "suicide remix" cd she just made me, and for thinking i'm the person to know when it comes to all things 'pop culture' {thanks for making me feel so 'hip'}... for my BIL for being my jackson5 dance partner and for figuring out what the heck was up with my toe. for my nieces - who keep my eternal tween ever present, who love up on their cousins so much and who (i'd like to think) look up to me the same way i did my aunt. to my MIL for her gardening knowledge and for those tasty cookies she made last christmas from ina garten's cookbook. she appreciates desserts like i appreciates desserts.

i'm thankful for my pms mommas...because lawdsy. everyone needs some sanity...and a few drinks! who would have thunk it way back when at bhs that the motley crew of us would have ever been friends, husbands and babies later?! and now that the last round of babes are out in the world - who's up for some drinkin? seriously...email me and lets set up a date -we are LOOONNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG overdue!

i'm thankful for my amy - it's nice to have someone who's in the same boat. who sees the world like you see it and who is ready to take on all the demons and monsters along side of you. it's also fun to have someone who agrees with you - that it really is the small things in life that make the biggest difference. And for my jackie - because the girl can make me laugh with her stories, and cheer me up by knowing just what it's like - plus we lived together with 4 kids and 2 husbands for a week...and we stayed sane. that's gotta mean something - i'm just happy that we could share the hh experience together!

i could go on and on - because i'm a thankful person. i'm a lucky person to be loved by such amazingly wonderful, remarkably remarkable, beautifully beautiful people.

but... i do need to refill my leftover snack plate

oh... which reminds me - i'm thankful for the extra 10 pounds of baby weight i still have to loose - it's a nice excuse to keep snackin' on the yummy leftovers - i mean i'm going to have to work it off anyway...

momma needs a new pair'a shoes....

2008-11-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

momma needs some new shoes.

and not momma shoes.

something sexy. something fun, and black, with a touch'a fur

(faux fur peeps. faux fur)

something that's gonna shake up my wardrobe...
(eh, if you can call it a wardrobe... still waiting on
Clinton and Stacey... or my heart-throb, Tim Gunn

to come pull me from my despair)

momma needs some shoppin' shoes

(shoppin' shoes as in krogerin' shoes).

come one - you need shoes too...
or the chance to win shoes

(i mean... who doesn't want to win some shoes?)

(and hopefully you are a size 8 and will share with me if you win)

or - hey, if you win... my 30th b-day is on 12/30... and it's my

...Golden Birthday...

the birthday I've waited for my entire life

(ok - a little drama...)

and i am always forgotten...b/c christmas is like right there... and no one wants to hang out b/c new years eve is like right there too...

(ok - a little guilt)

and you could re-gift.

don't worry - i won't judge!

look how cute...

so come on - comment on Classy Chaos' shoe giveaway about investing in yourself (her investment = lookin' smokin' in her skinny jeans... yah!)

go here... Classy Chaos

and do what she says... she means business.

seriously.

oh- and talking about investments...

check this out...

the girl effect

big deal in the village...

2008-11-13T18:57:00.000-08:00

today was the day that i've waited for since we moved here...

big day.

big.exciting.day.
and folks - it's a doozy...

well, a doozy for our village. and it's kind of cute.

and endearing.

the buzz it's created here.

we got a kroger at the end of our street.

like a milla-minute away. like leave

the kids with daddy-o and go.go.gooooo.

get food - on.my.own.

.alone.

with time to think. read labels.
.plan.

and be one of *those* groccery shoppers

who walk about with their ipods.

yep - close groccery locale = me with an ipod and a list.

and a big, fat smile.

its a big deal in a small village.

i'm stoked.

i love food.

i love groccery shoppin'.

i love new products and goodies.

i love trying new products and talkin' about'em.

...now - you might wonder what miss sassafrass and

i purchased while we mingled with all of the village...

well, over the masses of all the village-ites and the lines

of lines of people waiting to check out...

we purchased (sneakily, in the pharmacy) -

1. freebie case of diet coke(like everyone in the village)
2. suave octopus detangler for master d's bedhead (lawdsy help us!)

and the reason i heart kroger

(besides the fact it's like *right.here.in.my.lap*)...

...my new love...

whimsical whoopie pies.

oh yes...tasty happiness.

with sprinkles.

cute.rainbow.sprinkles.

yeah!

the store was buzzing. the aisles were big and bright.

the food was perfectly lined up. organized.

the bottles and bins. the labels and lanes.

all perfect and pretty.

and that makes a me in the village a happy me in the village.

i can't wait to really shop the store.

b/c it's more than just a store.

it's a neighborhood meeting place.

where we'll run in to neighbors picking up pork chops.

and friends shopping for french bread.

and we'll talk about the neighborhood.

and our kids.

and the kroger specials.

and we'll say, see ya later.

and drive our milla-minute home.

it's all a good thing.

a nice thing.

a neighborly neighbor kinda thing.

yeah for that!

(oh yeah...and my belly hurts -

from the sugary deliciousness of a

whoopie pie at 10pm.

It's how i'm celebrating kroger...

don't judge!)

the morning after...

2008-11-05T05:44:00.000-08:00

for the most part my voting selections went as i wanted. school bond issue - passed. school levy - passed. casino - didn't pass... the list goes on and on. and although my vote varied from the results of this morning's new president elect - i'm not sad. i'm not mad. i'm just- just. i mean really, truly...i wasn't sure who i was really voting for until i hit vote and made it official. i've been flip-floppin' for weeks now. so - i guess, although i got all maverick-y and voted like a maverick, i was just a finger tip away from the popular vote. though i do vote that i use the word maverick-y more often, because it's really a fun word to say...

maverick-y.

i hope that the change he brings is good change. i hope that his plan helps my family and my friend's and their families. i hope that the experience he does have is enough to make a difference and i hope that in 4 years from now the change will be the change we needed to make our neighborhoods, communities, states and nation the great places they have to potential to be.

and in having a history teacher as a mom and brother - it is a great moment in time. it's the first time in our nation's history that our nation sees it fit to elect a non-white person as its president. and that's something that my grandparents never thought they'd have the chance to see - it's all very exciting!

here's hoping for positive change!
here's hoping for hope!

{and i'm very happy that the election commericals are over with!}

* I'm Megan and I approve this blog....

they're so sweet - i have a toothache!

2008-10-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

who needs sugary treats when you have kids as sweet as mine!

hope you all enjoyed your trick or treating!

life in the village versus life in the ghetto on halloween was so incredibly different!
we went through over 250 pieces of candy in less than ONE hour! It was insane!
i saw more hannah montanas and storm troopers than I think I ever needed to see.
along with more papa's drinkin' the frosty brew.

but now, the kids are tucked in bed,
with their teeth brushed and cozy jammies
replacing their cute costumes.

the monkey told us before bed that he wanted to be a dragon now.
too bad mister - remember that for next year!

...and now momma could use herself a little fermented grape brew!

cheers!

the hair crisis

2008-10-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

i hate my hair. with.a.passion.
throughout my life, people have always commented about how thick and beautiful my hair was - and now - according to me - it's a mini-mullet.
seriously. it is. there's no helpin' it! But that's what you get for not having a single soul to trust in your new home town. I look like a 40 year old soccer mom... or paul from wonder years...or the new gabrielle solice from desparate housewives. yes, oh yes... i have the frazzled-frumpy mom cut. lawdsy help me. lawdsssssy help me!
I've tried everything - from gels to mousse to pommade to extra-hold Rave hairspray to clips and headbands and bandanas and bobby pins... nothing works, nothing makes it cute. it's very - "redneck wedding". and i'm now realizing that maybe this is how britney spears felt... oh wait - she was on something and "in a manic frenzy"...
i'm taking a picture of my mini-mullet and keeping it in my wallet - so that once my hair grows out and it once again "compliment worthy"... i'll remember to NEVER CUT MY HAIR SHORT AGAIN!

ev.ah!

maybe i'll just go all ghetto and get some extensions.

you think i'm joking... I'm serious.

i'm as serious as shaving your head!

** note: i went to the little hair salon on the square and got an ADORABLE cut!

it's cute and stylish and very anti-40 year old soccer mom with mom-jeans.

next up - a trip to old navy tomorrow for a bit of a quick fix to my wardrobe whoas!

...you are my best friend... and i Looooove you!

2008-10-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

is it really sad that if i hear Piano Concerto #21 by Mozart ,
i immediately sing the little einstien's rendition -
you are my best friend, and i loooooove you.

seriously, i do have classical music training and an appreciation for it as well.

i guess that's what happens when you become a mom!

oh well...
you are my best friend..... and I loooooooooove you!

Fruit - Flowers or Appliances? Celebrating 4!

2008-10-22T19:44:00.001-07:00

the night before Mr + Mrs!

it's hard to believe that 4 yrs ago tonight, i was on

the eve of being a blushing, beautiful bride.

it's hard to believe that 4 yrs ago tonight,

i could hardly sleep because of all the excitement

and anticipation of what October 23, 2004 held.

looking back, it seriously was a blink of an eye kind of experience. we were at the church-rehearsing, then back to my parents for dinner with the wedding party, then off to bed before "the" day of wedded bliss. and a morning of bellini's and pedis

and all things glamorous (oh, to return to such a relaxing, perfect morning!)

so much happens. like babies. like baby weight around your middle. like going to bed in flannel pj bottoms and one of your baby brother's thermal shirts instead of something "sexy-sexy". like loosing jobs and crying kids who are sick.sick.sick. and recessions and mortgage payments and moving away and well...

life just happens.

it's amazing. it's crazy.

it's what you do and how you handle it that really makes
your mark as a person.

and sometimes -

i feel like i've got it under control and the other times ...

well, sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't!

but, in the end -

what matters most on the eve of eves and anniversaries of anniversaries

is that the person i'm falling asleep next to, or crying to, or laughing with,

or trying to figure it all out with,

is that the person that pledged his

unconditional love through the ups-and-downs and

twisty-turns of life is with me when life just happens.

it's that the person who made those promises on the

4-yr old milestone of 10/23 is

my person...

forever and ever.

Mr+ Mrs. Forever and Ever...
Here's looking forward to Year 5's eve of eves where I'm gleefully packing a suitcase and dropping of the munchkins so that the hubs and I can get-away for a *romantic* getaway to celebrate Year 5 which could possibly, maybe, hopefully include a plane trip to cali where we dine at French Laundry... hint hint. (here's also hoping that by that time - I'm not pregnant (won't happen), not nursing (puh-lease) and am back into some sexy-sexy's (instead of the flannel Old Navy Jammie pants and my little brother's thermal shirt).

And maybe a gift

...of Wood or Silverware...

(huh...not sexy. not romantic)

CHEERS!

the recession hits home... our home.

2008-10-21T17:41:00.001-07:00

it's been a hard couple of days here in the house of everitt. thursday, I got a call from the hubs...it was "the" call - the J.O.B. had once again taken the ax to their job force and laid off another 10 people, and unfortunetly my husband's position was one of the positions axed. this had happened in april and 30 people were let go - so i guess it didn't surprise us too much when it happened. we just kind of shrugged our shoulders and agreed that "it is what it is" - and there's no time to pout and sulk about it -

seth came home and got right to work on contacting his contacts

and networking in a new search for another j-o-b.

i know that he's going to find one quickly, because i have faith in him and his intellegence and the asset he is to any company he works for.

Having that faith

doesn't solve it all though.

but it does make it easier to keep my chin up!

it's stressful to deal with all of this - to worry about making house payments and pay the bills and stock the fridge (more over for the kids than for me - i'm actually looking at this as a time to eat less, therefore lose these 10 -15 extra baby lbs. hanging around my waist).

And I've really emphasized 4 things, which i try to remind myself (and the hubs) each day...

1. We all have tragedy in our lives–no one escapes it.

2. so many blessings coming out of the tragedy.

3. We were meant to help each other amid tragedy, and

4. We can be in the middle of a tragedy and still be happy.

the weirdest thing is that pre-10/16, we knew that the job problem existed but never really gave it more than a passing thought - i mean who goes around being like "oh yah...we're getting laid off" ... or "oh boy - this recession really has hit home". we were living on a budget (like most people these days) and making ends meet and had a few dollars and some cents for fun stuff - but now, it's crazy because we're effected by this recession and knowing someone (well, how about being someone) who is affected by it is weird.

let's just say that this turn of events has made me reconsider my vote on Nov. 4.

Nothing is set in stone yet - but I'm reconsidering.

without getting to preach-y, bible-babble-y here... keep us (and all the other families in the same prediciment) in your prayers. every little bit helps...and like george michael says -

you gotta have faith (fa-faith fa-faith).

oh yah - and if you know of a Marketing Director position (or something similar)

give us a heads up... every little bit helps! Columbus or CLEVELAND (see something good might come from this - okay - guilty little push from me) - obviously staying in C.bus would be the best (hmpf - pout - kickin' dirt) because of the real estate market...but if the RIGHT JOB with the RIGHT PAY comes along and just happens to be in my beloved NEO...well, gosh darn it we may just move in with my parents!

And i just keep reminding myself that:

“There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” -Washington Irving

something about it just makes me feel like

every little things gonna be alright!

Crisp Autumn Memories...

2008-10-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

I get nostalgic come this time of year - it's the childhood memories of the autumn - of raking the leaves in our backyard into the "world's largest pile" and then making a leaf maze leading up to it. It's playing "catch the leaf" with my sister - which we only did once or twice and for some reason, it's locked into my memory like it was a daily occurance. It's planning and replanning and planning the planning of the C*girls &A*girl's halloween costumes and the strategy meetings "in the circle" or on the "big, green box" for finding the most perfect, ultra-efficient trick-or-treat route around the neighborhood. It's the memory of being told not to take the shortcut through the woods that lead from Twain Circle to Thorpe Circle and K*,K*, J* (my sister) and I did b/c we figured we could get farther along the candy route with the addition of the shortcut. We scared the living be-jesus out of ourselves and we never did it again. It's the loving stitchery of my mom whipping up the halloween costumes and the family tradition of carving our pumpkins and then lighting the candles, turning off the lights and watching them glow. My mom was all about memories like I am (eh, memories, traditions... same dif). It's the First Day Of School pictures in front of the same tree from my kindergarten to senior year. It's the stink bug infestation (ewwww) and the apple dumplings / apple crisp my mom would make us (hey - I'm coming home this weekend... waddya say about making those for your daughter - you know they one who gave you two beautiful grandkids?!) I had a great childhood - and I hope that I give my children an equally memorable ride through these "little years".
Then I start getting nostalgic about homecomings. Typically we went stag - but my favorite homecoming was my senior year. I had an "offical" date with my boyfriend (at the time) and had picked the most PERFECT dress in a coffee color. In size zero. (ah, memories!) It was a great time, with my friends and with my date. Then comes the memories of going off to College in the fall - to Kent State where I met great friends and have a ton of great memories stockpiled. Like crazy halloween times where Seth and I and my sister and the C*family and our friend(and the mister's roommate) Mike (RIP) and all of Mike's pals went to downtown Kent for pure mayham... Oh, the scandlous outfits the girls and I wore... to have that shape back! to wear red leather pants and a cropped tank top...memories....memories. Or the memory of taking Nadine, my roommate from Germany to Cleveland to see the sites and snap pictures and go to an Indians game. It was so fun and such a great opportunity to really show off the city I love. (sorry New York, Chicago and San Fran... you just don't cut it compared to good ol' C-Town!)
But, there's also that crisp autumn air that takes you back to nowhere specific - it just renews you and makes you feel like you are remembering something special.
And now - to share one of my very favorite memories of all time. It's one that has been sneaking up on me lately more and more...not sure why, but it's a good memory and I welcome it!

My grandma and I are super close. She's considerably one of my best friends. We've always had this "connection" - we just "get" each other. We're artsy, we're bargain hunters and my Grandma has always made me feel so special - it's just a Grandma thing I guess. Maybe it's a grandma-first born thing. We talk EVERY day... sometimes two times a day. She knows I love funky costume jewelry and has given me my Great Aunt Katherine's collection a piece at a time. She was always so proud of my orchestra performances and newspaper experiences and always was clipping art/writing contests out of the Medina County Gazette for me to enter. She always just got me - and believed in me... (I guess you could say I really lucked out in the support system aspect of things - with a great grandma, great mom, great aunts and a great sis... lucky me!)

Maybe it wasn't one specific memory but a group of similar memories that adds up to this one I was spending the night at the grandparent's house... - I remember sleeping in my Grandma's bed (Grandpa always slept in the guest room b/c of his coughing) - Grandma brought me breakfast in bed (even now I think breakfast in bed is the ultimate special treat!) - hot chocolate and fresh, buttered Italian bread. YUM. As simple as it is, it's still one of my very favorite breakfast's in bed!

She served it to me on a really special tray and I remember the mug was a Boyton Mug with these little funny animals (actually the first punksee has a few children's book that features them, so I always come back to this memory when we read those specific books).

I felt so special and loved - I had my grandma's attention - 100% of it. And it was wonderful, and it still is wonderful - there are days, like yesterday where my grandma and I talk for an hour about nothing more than this, that and the other... and that conversation is just like the cup of hot chocolate and the toast - a memory that makes me feel so special!

a day off

2008-10-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

I had an unexpected day off from watching little lil' L-man today. And at 6:43am I decided that I had a few choices to make about the day.

A. we could stay home - and do the same old same old routine we do every Monday - Friday.

B. I could go to Target and JoAnn's and spend money that I don't have to spend.

C. I could pack up the kids, head up to Medina County for the "whirlwind surprise tour 2008"...

And I did C.

I love my hometown (mainly b/c I'm removed from my hometown...) and I haven't seen my grandparents or parents for well over a month and a half. Which, for me is WAY too long.

So, being ever so organized I packed a lunch for the punksees, loaded up the sippy cups and bottles and away we went.

It was so nice to surprise my family - and shake up my, typically boring, day.

I'm really looking forward to going home for the weekend next week - though, I was hoping to be able to run into more friends when I came home but it seems that October is a busy month for everyone!

cheeeeeeseeeee.

2008-10-07T04:28:00.000-07:00

Family picture - DONE!

And not a moment too soon... will you look at that picture, aside from my untamed bangs, Punksee 1 is smiling, the mister is smiling, Punksee 2 is smirking and Momma is smiling, and I hardly look like the messy momma train-wreck family photo day creates.

The anxiety for picture day starts at home - when I'm getting EVERYONE ready and ironing EVERYONE'S outfits all before I even step foot in the shower. I honestly got ready in 10 minutes. Showered, Dressed, Primped and out the door. And quite honestly it's the best I think I've looked post-babies...

5 shots into this Punksee 1 broke down (nothing new here) - and mister-mister, being a typical man, suggests that "that may be all we get" - UMMMM... NO. I just did not get EVERYONE ready for 5 pictures... sit down and smile...all of you. (I may have said that too).

Long story short - they took 72 pictures of us. We started out with two High School kid baby wranglers (who were horrible at wrangling) who only made Punksee 1 more upset - then there was the MOMMA moment, where I, for the first time in my mommyhood career, hauled Punksee 1's booty to the ladies room for a stern talking to - oh, yah... and I bribed him with M&Ms and Granola Bars, (whatever, you would have done the same thing!). After that, we did the "fall" shot and we had a new, WONDERFUL wrangler named Elizabeth - who took him aside, played hide and seek with him and got him laughing and smiling. Wonderful, Wonderful Elizabeth - I asked if she would come live with us.

So, Family picture day is done and there's a whole year before we have to do *that* again... looks like I should get planning!!!

hey...hey...you...you...

2008-10-02T19:40:00.001-07:00

i am in love.

very in love.

the best in love in the world. whole world in love.

i'm happy too.

beyond happy. happily happy.

you know why....

because of this:

guess i'm easy like sunday morning!

(now i need to go snuggle up on the hubs for givin' in and getting me what i wanted! yay! what a good, lovin' hubs... he knows the mantra - happy wife, happy life!)

be prepared for pictures out the ying-yang tomorrow! whew-whoooooooo!

brrrrrr.... and other news.

2008-10-02T04:17:00.000-07:00

oh folks, it's a cold one today. When I woke up this morning our thermostat read 64. That's chilly! So, it's Oct. 2 and we've officially turned on the heat (to 70). I've taught Dylan my favorite trick as a kid (who am I kidding...I still do it now!) - take a blanket, and snuggle up over the register.... so toasty and warm!

In other news - Today MAY very well be the day of the new camera. After work today, Seth suggested we take a run over to Best Buy / Circuit City to see what they have. Last night, on our outing to Target (it's been two months since I was last there... can you believe that?!) for humidifer filters and Lexmark Ink Cartridges, I fell in love with a Nikon D40... but realized it didn't have a video option and fell out of love with it (because LAWD knows I don't need to carry around a video camera, a digital camera and a diaper bag, and a purse AND two kids!).

So, here's hoping tonight I'm taking practice shots ...

Dylan is feeling better, and now, as luck would have it, Nattie seems a little out of sorts... She was up until 11:00 last night, crying and cranky. (Gas?!) and up again at 2 - in which she nursed and I had to let her cry it out (she was asleep in like 2 min). But, needless to say - I didn't make it to boot camp this morning. boooooooo for me.... I am now going to feel like a lard butt all day-(thank goodness for some easy to do at home exercises I've learned from Christy, maybe I'll do those during naptime.)

We're in the process of halloween costumes - who knew it would be so difficult to find exactly what I want for them. Though I think I've resolved Natalie's costume and am hoping to get Dylan's this weekend (along with some underwears AND a big boy potty!!!!!)

Have a great Thursday ... Friday is closer than Monday!! YAY!

it's our love-a-versary...

2008-10-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

Today, as sappy and lame is it really is to celebrate, is Seth and my "anniversary" from when he "officially" asked me if I was his girlfriend (or would be his girlfriend...2 kids will make you forget the "EXACT" wording of stuff like that). It's crazy to look back to when we first started dating - I liked him so much, and I'm pretty sure he "dug" me too. We've always had so much fun together - we know just how to make each other laugh, get mad, feel better and be a better person. Who could ask for anything more? And sure, there are times when we laugh at each other, get mad at each other and don't talk for a bit - but that's normal and healthy and expected.

We've done so much together - from hiking part of the AT in March (what was I thinking?) to renovating our 100+ yr old Akron Home to creating our beautiful family and life in Columbus... and a little of everything in between.

We're approaching our 4 year wedding anniversary (an everitt household holiday not to be forgotten, or else (10/23)) and when I do have a moment, to stop, and think... (few and far between now-a-days) I can't help but feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world. I have a husband who loves me - works hard to provide for our family - shares in the same virtues and morals and traditions I do - and has given me two of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, my Dylan and my Natalie. He cheers me on, Makes me think and pushes me always to be the best me I can be. He supports me when life gets rough and when I just need to let go and trust that someone else can handle it... he's there.

He's my best friend, my soul-supporter, my "lovah" and so much more. It's hard to believe that we went from this:

Iour very first picture together at a KSU football game

to this:

our beautful wedding day, october 23, 2004

to this:

our first family vacation together, HHI'08

Because LAWD knows there was a time and place during the early days that I questioned it! ha!

I'm such a lucky lady!

Worst.Weekend.To.Date

2008-09-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

let's just say spending the evening in the ER with your husband and 2 year old is not an ideal way to spend a Saturday night.

Dylan is fine - just a stomach flu... he's still irratible (he is 2 though!!) but he's eating the BRAT diet and drinking lots of fluids. Oh and he's a popscile-eating machine!

I'm stressed out and need a good week's worth of sleep to get back to functioning. But, I can already sense a busy week ahead of me - not to mention the 5k I have this weekend and the 2 days of bootcamp, bright and early. (10/02 update: not sure if the 5K is happening this weekend... I just booked an apt. for our family pictures at 11:45... and I missed boot camp this morning b/c of being up at all odd hours of the night with Natalie last night)

Here's praying for a speedy recovery for my little man - and a low-key week for his overwhelmed momma.

Nattie has a rash too - but we've deducted it's either from the Organic Turkey Gerber baby food that I just gave her (we're thinking it was the barley) or from the Aveeno bath soap (which also irriates the heck out of Dylan).

Prayers of all denominations accepted!

move over Gordon Ramsey....

2008-09-23T06:56:00.001-07:00

Dylan has always been my super eater - and I credit that to the homemade food I made for him so lovingly. He would eat it all - Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Green Beans, Peas, Kiwi, Apples, Grapes, Chicken, Steak, Fish... you name it. Just a few weeks ago he ate Collard Greens @ the Lady and Sons (in Savannah)...

And now, he's 2 1/2 and he's fast becoming the world's toughest food critic.

I'm dead set on not letting him become "one of those" kids that only eats preservative-filled foods like hot dogs and chicken nuggets and American single cheese. But I may be loosing this battle. I'm trying my hardest to replace the above crap-choices with better choices like Turkey Links and homemade chicken nuggets (oh, if you haven't had my Megan Chickee Nuggets, you don't know what you are missing!) - and cutting back on "juice" and snacks (which, thank God are still healthy choices per Dylan's decision) before meal time so that he'll eat what I make.

This can't go on forever - This "good food strike" won't get the best of me... and that little critic had better think twice about writing up my cooking in some toddler foodie magazine or sending it back to the kitchen for changes... b/c you know what happens when you complain at restaurants...

Oh yah... I'll spit in the food!

(I'm kidding - just kidding!)

(Update: Tonight's dinner, which just happens to be one of the family favorites, was once again, boycotted by our little gordon ramsey... We had my homemade Chicken Fingers and sides... I asked Dylan, when he pushed the plate away, glared down his nose and said "no. no thank you" if he'd like to dip. Because - hey, dipping is fun... he said no to ketchup, no to his favorite dressing (Asiago Cracked Peppercorn) and YES to Hershey's Chocolate Syrup... and do you know that that little stinker ate the entire chicken finger by dipping it in the pea size squeeze of chocolate I put on his plate... OH... and this good food boycott only comes at dinner time... suggestions and encouragement are welcome!)

up in the gym just workin' on my fitness

2008-09-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

Oh yes... I did it - Day one of the journey to the new, toned, 10 pounds lighter me.

My first official friend from the village started up a fitness class on Tues and Thurs mornings in this adorable dance studio (owned by my newest friend from the village) where I'll be assisting in the planning of princess and pirate parties (and all fun things in between) - We meet at 5:30am (oh yes, nice and early) and work it out. Bootcamp style.

I'm actually going to make myself a "sticker" chart and force myself to go, as the end result (aside from hopefully loosing the Natalie Weight around my middle and fitting in a size smaller dress for my sis's wedding in June) will be the new Hot Me Wardrobe I'm dreaming of to start off my 30th year with.

It's 2x a week until Dec. 11 - which means, I only have 10 weeks and 1 class to go! whoot!

It was invigorating - I feel wonderful - and I haven't produced sweat like that since I was in labor with Natalie!

Go me! Go me! Go me!

the end

2008-09-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

...of my pumpkin-growing experience for this season.

Here's what we got...

Yes. 2. Two. dos.

They aren't very big - and underneath the surface, I'm a bit disappointed. I imagined these beautiful, large, glowing-orange pumpkins big enough to carve out and take a cute picture of my kids sitting inside. Instead I have one poc-marked lopsided pumpking (officially my first pumpkin ever grown) and the second one had big dreams, and was on track to be the best pumpkin ever, and fill my pumpkin dream... but then that hurricane blew through and ripped it from the very lifeline that was supplying it with all those tasty pumpkin-lovin' nutrients. Oh well. Next year... next year!

As for the ones I have they're cute, and awkward and probably won't be carved... though maybe I can carve an "Autumn" theme to celebrate the arrival of fall. that's the new plan...looks like we're carvin' some pumpkins this week...

Here's to next year's bigger - badder pumpkins.

...and we're back...

2008-09-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

Last week was a looooonnnnnnggggg week. Long and dark. and Boring.

you know - beacause we were dealing with the aftermath of a HURRICANE - in Ohio. yah. In Ohio. A Hurricane. Seriously.

I'll recap.

Last Sunday we had sustained winds of above 60 mph for over 5 hours. Around 5 pm, say at about the unconvienent time when I'm feeding the family... our house goes dark. Thinking it will be one of those times where the electricity flickers and resumes, I think

nothing of it...until about 9pm - when Seth and I are STARVING and Natalie and Dylan are over it.

From that point on - it was dark, and boring. I spent my evening texting...you know like they did in the pioneer days - by candlelight and all (I said this out loud that night and Seth thought it was hilarious). (btw - I know that the pioneers didn't text, I was referencing doing 'anything' by candlelight -and at the time that "anything" meant texting).

Our neighbors behind us were the worst hit in the neighborhood, and will more than likely need to have an entirely new roof put on. Mostly the neighborhood houses all have very similar damage to what we have - it's not even really worth filing a claim for since the grand total for the cost of repair is like $180.

This is our damage (taken with my camera phone, becuase well - the Nikon has passed - RIP).

Mind you it's HURRICANE DAMAGE in OHIO... yah... Hurricane...Ohio - same sentence!

the pictures really don't do it the justice it deserves - the pieces that came off the house were like 8 feet long.

On Monday morning I loaded up the family and headed to Seth's sister's (god bless'em for taking us in!) I was, of course, worried about the "limited supply" of "liquid gold" I have in my freezer - which sent me into panic mode - you'd swear the way I packed it up that I was transporting an organ for a much needed transplant! (stayed nice and frozen though!).

We stayed there over night on Monday and then Tuesday night decided that it's just so much easier (even without electricity) to be in your own place when you have 2 little ones! Oh and did I mention that I now have a new outlook on starting the dishwasher and washer and dryer... because um, I had two HUGE soaking wet, gettin' moldy loads of our linens, blankets and clothes just sitting in the washer and dryer and a dishwasher over- flowing with dishes that should have been turned on waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy before the electricity went out.

Tuesday night - we stayed here. Seth was sicker than a dog and spent the day recooping. We had hung out at Lo and Eric's all day and gave the kids dinner and a bath there before heading home to sleep in our own beds.

Wednesday - I was over it - I wanted the tv, I wanted my fridge full of the food I had JUST purchased on Saturday morning, I wanted to cook. I loaded up the kids and we headed to Lo's to do the moldy, icky loads of wash I had... it was gag-fest for me the whole way to Marysville. That was until... I pulled onto Prarie Run and saw the most beautiful thing - the fountain in our little pond ... running - on ELECTRICITY!

Throughout the whole ordeal I just kept reminding myself that we were blessed because we still had a roof over our heads - we still had our belongings and comfort items. Unlike so many in the Gulf who lost everything they owned because of Ike. (This was re-interated in a beautiful sermon from Father Sizemore today @ Church! I love when things work out that way!)

My family - although *stressed* to the limit, was safe. We had loved ones who could take us in and feed us well - our knick-knacks and favorite things and the kid's lovies were all still right where we left them. Our neighbors (many who I have NEVER EVER seen before) started coming out of the wood work - checking on each other and returning items that had been blown up and down and back and forth around the neighborhood. It was nice in a way - to have a community. (see... life in the village isn't so bad!).

What was nice too - was the way our home felt without a tv. I am guilty of it for the mere fact that every once in awhile - Momma just needs a break. There is this "vibe" that fills the house when the tv is on - neither good nor bad - it's just there. humming. filling the air. Without it we took the time to focus on what REALLY matters...being a family - making each other laugh and talking about things.

What did I learn (since, you know there are learning experiences in EVERYTHING!)

1. TV isn't really that important

2. You can live without a lot of the Modern Conviences

3. Plan Ahead - You should do whatever it is Right then and there - because otherwise you end up with stinky clothes and linens (don't worry - Thanks to Lo's Sanitize button on her washer - they're Fresh & Clean) and a dishwasher full of things you have to wash - BY HAND.

4. Going to bed at 9pm is nice.

5. Everything is better by candlelight!

Hope everyone else out there is back basking in the modern marvel of electricity...

A shout out of thanks to Thomas Edison! Whoot! Whoot! Thanks for inventing it!

keeping dell and nikon in business...

2008-09-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

i'm depressed... both my laptop and digital camera took a dive in the same week.

this is not good.

send help... or backup...

(UPDATE: I have been given the promise of a new camera come the first week in October... until then, we're pushing Natalie over any time it looks like she might start walking {i kid! i kid!)

worth stashing in my thought vault...

2008-09-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

After reading the below quote I realized that too many times I've been guilty of rushing life to get to the next "mile marker"... and that's sad - because *really* what's the hurry? I am realizing that my babies are no longer itty bitty babies with little kitten like cries -all crumpled and squishy like babies are - that my 30s are fast approaching and that life just generally goes by way to fast. The vacation helped me realize that slowing down and watching my kids experience life lets me relive my childhood - and honestly...what greater gift can your children give you? It's just genereally a great quote to stash in your thought vault...

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments.She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear[2004], 10–11).

dieting the Megan way

2008-09-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

I don't feel like I need to seriously diet - like weight watchers or jenny craig or anything like that.. but I do feel that since I had little Miss Nattie that these baby LBs are not disappearing as quickly as I'd hoped. I'm nursing - which according to everyone (except me) makes those pounds melt off like buttah... Nope - still got the baby pooch 8 months later...it's coming off like molassas... in January.

Seth feels the same way - he's retaining some poundage that he'd rather not have. And we've talked about solving this issue as a team, because we're married...and that's what married people do - solve problems together...well, that and counting going to Home Depot on a Saturday night and considering it a date.

So on vacation we officially marked Monday as our turning point - once we got home and unpacked and settled into the village routine once again, Monday would be the day we'd drink more water, eat less, and be fit and active. So we took a 45 min. family walk - where in I'd like to have it noted that I ran, for like 100 yards (shhh... believe me, it means something to me - baby steps) and wasn't winded. Monday night we did the same thing (I didn't run though).

Well - any nursing mom will tell you that nursing a baby leaves you exhausted and starving - unfortunately...my "huger pangs" are for snickers bars - when I was pregnant with Nattie I craved a snickers bar... horribly craved them - like someone might lose a limb or a life if I didn't get one NOW. And it's carried over. Now, beyond the snickers addiction I'm a super healthy eater... so I know that dieting (meaning cutting out fast foods and sugary treats) isn't really what needs to happen... however, last night as we were discussing this dieting/fitness "thang" it hit me - The Megan Diet...

Taking what I know from all those weight loss tips and techniques I've learned while waiting in doctor's offices and in reading the hand me down magazines I get from good ol' Grandma...To loose weight you should slowly reduce the Amount (in my mind size) of what you are eating... so...

Instead of eating say a King Size Snickers Bar (which I don't really do...often) you should eat a Regular size Snickers Bar... and well, if that's the case - then eating a Halloween fun-sized Snickers Bar is better than the Regular bar (bring on the Trick or Treats!) and in turn - to continue with my snicker fix and not completely nix the yumminess they are out of my life completely... I should eat the itty-bitty snicker bites (like 2 of them - not the whole bag).

And - since the Almond Snickers have almonds in them - well, we all know that Almonds are like a SUPER food - so I guess I can eat as many of those as I want... you know for their Super Food powers.

There ya go - The Megan Diet... try it!

Where's the Beach ... not in the village.

2008-09-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

First, I'd like to say how could be possibly even consider coming home when the sweeties look that stinkin' cute in the pool? With happy babies like that - we should pack it all up and move South... seriously!

Now we're home in the village..

.and we "escaped" Hanna. Though we were never really worried about the approaching hurricane - we just followed what the "locals" were doing and figured that if we had a reason to run and hide... they'd let us know it! Only one house in all of Palmetto Dunes was being boarded up. So we weren't to bothered by the impending storm.

All - in- All, It was a wonderful family vacation that made me appreciate my family so much - Being able to share these special moments and memories with Seth and our babes really was very cool. To me, family vacations are so very special - it's an escape from all things responsible and stressful and a chance to just "be" a family and do "family" things together.

I'll recap -

For the most part our days worked out that we'd wake up (nice and early if you are an Everitt kid, say like 6 am) eat some pancakes, watch a little playhouse disney whileChef Mom packed up a picnic lunch for the beach and we'd be out the door by 10 am to get the ideal beach spot over at the Disney beach house on Hilton Head. We'd be home around noon, take a quick dip in the pool - take a quick rinse off shower and put the kiddos down for a nap come mid-afternoon. Then we'd eat dinner and go out for a walk on the boardwalks/plazas and get ice cream.

Come Wednesday, Seth and I had our share of sand and chasing Dylan around and keeping sand out of Natalie's mouth - so we opted for a little day trip to Savannah. We fell in love with Savannah, ate the most delicious meal at Paula Deen's place (though we very well may have eaten our weight in pure butter...oh well!) and shared a few laughs.

When we arrived in Savannah and went to take Dylan out of the carseat he pretty much exploded his diaper (dang, that boy drinks some water!) and well, I had beach brain and didn't pack the back up outfits I typically carry in the car - So Seth and Dylan hung out in the car while Nattie and I hustled our backsides to GAP...which just happened to be so strategically placed at about 4 blocks away(yay!). In arriving at the G-A-P I noticed that my sweet daughter had also exploded on my hip. nice. nice. So about $40 later - the kids are stinkin' cute in their gap-wear (which will also double as their outfits for our family picture) and we're off for some good eats and a little retail (like in window shopping) therapy. I found two of the most adorable stores in which I could have easily spent a small fortune on their goods - and due to cranky kids - I was only allotted about 3 minutes in each store, therefore not enough time to make the decision to purchase anything (boooo!). My first favorite store was @home (http://www.vintagegeneral.com/)- this ultra-cutesy vintage home store. With tons of goodies.

I wish I could have picked up that entire store, loaded it into my suv and brought it home with me to decorate every nook and cranny of my house with. I loved the throw blankets they had and all the little "kitchy" nicknacks and fun, funky jewelry... but most of all I loved their oven mitts and pot holders and dish towels - and my heart stopped for their half aprons. Very cute - Very in my hand, going to purchase... until I hear a wail from one of my two chicklets. booooo. I think Daddy was pinching'em so I didn't spend money!

I got back to the vacation house and immediately googled the site and found the store's blog - I am also going to email them to see about shipping that adored apron to the village. It would make me a very happy housewife. very.happy.

Second store - Nourish... (http://www.nourishsavannah.com/) lotions and potions and handmade soap. lovely. beautiful and sooooo sweet smelling... I had 3 bars of soap and 2 candles on my radar, but alas... they are still resting on their shelf... which is in Savannah...not Sunbury (booo).

Back to family news - Dylan is now convinced that Chocolate and Ice Cream are every day treats - he became very use to going to the general store and then to the beach or boardwalk to eat'em. He's talking up a storm now, and even holding conversations with us about the

most random stuff. He's swimming on his own (well, with the help of wingies and a noodle...but hey - ya'know) and he's got a little color to his pasty body! I think he really enjoyed spending all that time with Seth!

Natalie is cruising - everywhere, which just started on Saturday (sept 6). We're thinking that she'll be walking by Halloween... (lawd, help me!) She's a

cheerio machine and is lovin' herself some pancakes! If you say "kisses, kisses" she'll smack her lips together like she's giving you a kiss - so sweet!

Seth is back at work - sufferin

g from what we're calling "allergies" and is getting ready to celebrate a b-day in about a month (whoot! whoot! makin' the plans now!)

It was so nice to have my husband with me all week - uninterrupted and ready to help with the daily "kid" duties. It was so nice to be as relaxed as we were together, having fun and hanging out. I think (know) that Seth really liked the vacation too. He had so much fun playing in the pool with Dylan and snuggling up to Nattie.

As for me - I'm jonesin' for the beach, bad. I miss it so much - I miss the atmosphere of HH and the general vibe of chilling out. Even doing laundry was relaxing there (I know... crazy! right?!) - which must have something to do with being less than 5 miles from the beach, or maybe that I was doing nothing but washing bathing suits and beach towles... eh, whatever! The kitchen of where we stayed was out of this world (aside from the fact that they need some new knives - next year, the Wustof is coming with me) and I played scrabble every night with Jackie - in which we've discovered that we are scrabble genuises (meaning we scored well over 300 almost everytime we played).

Coming home is stressful and a little depressing - Natalie projectile vomited in the back of the SUV, which lead to an interesting moment or two and the Wendy's in Charlotte messed up my order, not once, not twice but three times... which, when you are jonesin for some Wendy's and then it's not what you expected (not once, but three times) - well, that's just sad and disappointing! (Note to Charlotte's Wendy staff - A Chicken Club does not include a Spicy Chicken breast ... me and my raging heartburn for the remainder of the

way home thank you. I live in the hometown of Wendy's and I'm telling Dave Thomas on you!)

Though we got home in awesome time and had 2 days to recover from vacation mode and start back up the "reponsibilities". I did become the MOMS of Sunbury, Ohio's new Secretary (meaning I write up the newsletters and send out weekly email updates) and did get an interesting proposal from a friend that may be something really cool... more to come on that later.

I'm in a sour mood because my Nikon is shot. Dead. Gone. KERPLAT. I'm so upset and sad and trying to figure out how to get a new camera considering that Natalie is on the border of some first steps and I'll be so mad if I miss getting those recorded. My 30th is approaching, and I think that may be a nice gift for someone turning 30 (which also happens to be her "golden birthday" 30 on December 30th - hint hint - wink wink) So maybe I'll just go buy a back up cheapie until then. Suggestions (or gifts of a new camera) are always welcome.

In summary: family vacation = fun times. And to think positively about this whole thing (and not let being 730 miles from the beach get me down) it's less than 365 until we return! yay!

I'm hoping next year to spend more time in Savannah - and this time purchase the lovlies that I found!!! The kids will be older and, again, it will be fun to explore the beach and cities with them!

I'll leave you with the best pictures of the vacation... for your "oooh-ing and ahhhh-ing" pleasure!

...Daddy and Dylan, last time on the beach...

... Nattie's first ocean experience...

... an attempt at a family picture on the beach...

we're going on a trip...

2008-08-31T05:13:00.000-07:00

We've made it and enjoyed our first official day on Hilton Head.

It's beautiful here... the house we're staying in is absolutely perfect...though the walk to the beach is a doozy (especially for poor Jackie!) (and especially for the fact that Phil directed us the wrong way!). But it's beautiful!

It's so lush and quiet and and beautiful here... I may never want to come home. (plus the kitchen here is my dream kitchen - or pretty close to my dream kitchen minus the crappy side-by-side fridge).

We feel so blessed to be able to give our kid's this vacation - It was such "a moment" to see Seth and Dylan get their first glimpse of the ocean...to put Dylan and Natalie's little toes in the ocean for the first time - and to have them love the ocean.

We couldn't get Dylan out of the waves - he just kept giggling every time they would crash into us.

We came home from the beach - COVERED from head to toes in sand...but that's part of a beach life! And once we all got "Fresh and Clean" and had a little snack.... the kids were all tucked in we played one game of Scrabble and crashed.... at 10:30!

Refreshed and ready to go - Both daddies are still snoring away - and we're getting ready to pack the beach lunch and gear to go---go----GOOOOO! for some fun in the sun!

we may need a uhaul

2008-08-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm packing what seems to be the entire house for a vacation next week to Hilton Head.
The other Mom-in-attendance on the vacation just sent me her amazingly organized excel document of food for the week, what she's packing and I now feel under-prepared, which sprials me into psycho-planner mode. Which is why I am in packing panic mode...we can't get on the road fast enough...
I know kids need lots of stuff - and I'm fearful that I'm going to forget that one essential item that will make the week run smoother than say if I forget it. And it's probably something so lame - like the dishwasher container for keeping the spoons contained. Seriously.
I've been told that if we forget something, run out of something etc.... we can just pick it up - but seriously, I want to get there, unpack and relax (as much as a mom of 2 under 3 can). I don't want to go to Wal-mart to deal with the wal-mart crazies on vacation... I can do that here in the village.
It's been a week of to-do lists for my to-do lists, grocery lists with revision after revisions and packing, unpacking and repacking. I've packed my stuff, the kid's stuff and Seth's stuff is folded and all he has to do is put it in his travel bag.
And the worst part is fast approaching - packing the SUV. I'm cringing as I'm writing about it. I like things in order, I like logic and strategy to how it's placed. So, that's what I'll be doing tonight and tomorrow... keep me in your prayers! my sanity is being tested and we haven't hit the road yet.
(also - keep my kid's sleeping through the majority of the trip... that would help tremendously!)

Ask and you'll receive...

2008-08-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin count.... TWO! What a wonderful surprise this morning!

ONE:

TWO:

Plus - Some bees were seriously working here - they were COVERED with pollen... Go Bees Go! Go Bees Go!

And despite my past gardening faux-pas of lack of watering... Now that I have 2 pumpkins - I'm watering the pumpkins:

Now - (thanks to my bff "Anonymous" green-thumbed Amy) I need to buy some marigolds to keep the rabbits away. Here I come Petitti's Garden Center !!!

follow up on the pumpkins...

2008-08-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

oh yah - I still only have one pumpkin, and I think the rabbits are eating the leaves.

Ugh.

Remember that request for maybe 2 pumpkins - I take back that request... my new request is that those rabbits just leave my pumpkin alone so that come October 30, I'm carving a nice big ol' pumpkin.

obviously I don't look in mirrors...

2008-08-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've always worked hard to look put together, even on the roughest of days. Now, some days that means hair done, make up on and an outfit that is suitable to go somewhere in.
While other days it means the tried and true black and pink yoga pants and my Brunswick Wresting (circa 1997) t-shirt. So Comfy-fabulous. On those days - I'm just happy to have brushed my teeth and swished on a little CKone.

But yesterday my friends - took the cake.

By the looks of the outfit, you may (not knowing me) think that I had just gone to work out - Cotton shorts and a comfy cotton t-shirt w/ my new so fabulous crocs. Basic Grey. Comfy - Cute... good for running..however I don't run, well except when I get in the car and "run" to the grocery store in, which just happens to be where I was headed for the juice boxes I forgot on the initial trip.

I get Natalie out of the car, head into Meijers, and then go back out to the car to head home... and that's when it happened...

I take a quick peek at myself in my rear view mirror before getting on the road.... only to realize this:

oh yah - that butterfly clip isn't intentional - I did that becuase it was in Nattie's hair yesterday, that is until she pulled it out and put it in her mouth (CHOKING HAZARD) and so with a babe on my hip, I did the easiest thing possible to get the clip out of her hands/mouth... I put it in my own bangs and then forgot about it...

...AND THEN WENT OUT IN PUBLIC WITH A YELLOW BUTTERFLY CLIP IN MY HAIR...

Thank God I wasn't actually driving - the shock alone could have caused a 4 (or 5) car pile up on Route 3.

Lawd - send clinton and stacy... send carson kressly... send someone to dress me so I don't head out into public looking like that again!

...what a dork. what a dork...

olympic-sized momma-pride...

2008-08-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

The hubs and I...We're addicts... We love the Olympics. We're suppose to be in bed by 10pm. It's now 10:21pm...we're WIDE awake... watching Michael Phelps. Because, this is history...in the making.

But, this blog isn't about Michael and his golds. It's about his mom and her humble pride (give that momma a gold - she deserves it!)

There was an interview with his mom on the TV- and I couldn't help but be proud of Michael for her... I couldn't help but swell with pride in the coverage of the meeting of President G.W.Bush and Momma Phelps.

In the interview GWB said: 'I understand on top of Michael being a phenomenal athlete, he's a very humble young man." Then she said - 'Yes sir, he is very humble, he's very gracious."'

"That's because of you," Bush told her.
(Love'em or Hate'em... it was still a proud momma moment for her...)

And that just takes my heart and fills it with pride as if it were my own son he was talking about. Because there is NOTHING in the world better than being told that your children are good because of you. And to have it come from the elected leader of the US...wow...

As a mother, you do your best to raise the best children. You hope they become a good person, that they work hard, and that they are virtuous people as they grow from children into teens into adults. That when they make it to the great big world, they'll be a valuable asset to the world. Overall that they choose right over wrong.

I can imagine Debbie Phelps doing what I do every night when I tuck my little man into his bed and we say our prayers. I imagine her sneaking in before she goes to bed to check one last time, tucking his favorite lovie in next to him, resituating the covers that he's kicked all over the place back up under his chin and planting a final kiss on his stinky, sweaty, sweet little forehead. Little did she know that he'd be breaking Olympic records.

What an amazing feeling it must be- To see your child become.

"Let him sleep....for when he wakes, he'll move mountains..."

the little green smudge on my thumb

2008-08-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ask Seth - he'll give you an honest answer... I have no gardening ability...what-so-ever. I can dig a hole, I can plant something, it will grow.. and live.. for two days - then it dies. Because, he'll say, that I don't water things.

Until now - Behold... my pumpkins...

They're taking over. All that green and only one lonely pumpkin... (kind of)

and well, uh... I'm not trying to be greedy here but I do have 2 kiddos and would really like 2 (maybe 3) decent sized pumpkins to carve up for Halloween... just putting it out there...

The great thing about pumpkins is that you water them until they sprout... then you put some SEVIN on'em and leave'em alone.

From my very lacking gardening knowledge and my understanding of biology - all those pretty blossoms SHOULD BECOME pumpkins. maybe.

We'll see...

I mean, baby steps right?

I'm shooting for the green thumbnail this year - next year will be the year of the green thumb...

Making Memories based on memories...

2008-08-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

There are things in my life that I've always cherished. Most of these "things" aren't things at all - they're early memories of sharing a room with my sister, of snow days spent pretending to perform ice skating routines fit for the winter games on the creek behind our house. It's the memories between me and my siblings which are now starting to be exposed to our parents...probably because we no longer "live under their roof"... and because now instead of being grounded for life because of the circumstance, we now sit around the dinner table and laugh - hard - about them. It's memories of special times and all the nuances that go with them.

And now that I have two babes of my own, I'm basking in the joy of "paying forward" the memories I cherish.

A few weekends ago, Seth and I took the babes on our first un-official official family weekend get-a-way to CIC before we do the official official first family vacation to HH. It's a weekend away with Seth's sister, brother-in-law and our 2 nieces. It's fun. It's crazy. It's crazy fun. It's a predictable vacation (and with 2 little ones... I heart predictable). We swam at CIC (Catawba Island Club = rubbing elbows with people who have money out the wah-zoo and big yachts to prove it).

We ate at Netty's (http://www.nettys.com/ = the most deliciously guilty food EV-AH) and we buy our fudge from the old schoolhouse in Marblehead (buy a pound get 1/2 a pound free... sure, why not!). It's a good time. When the kids (finally) go to bed - we sit up, play games and indulge in adult beverages (well, maybe next year for me - between being prego and breastfeeding - I haven't had a decent drink in over 3 years....ouch!) We marvel at the sunsets, we gawk at the ginormously giant yachts and beautiful sailboats and talk about the how-where-when of how we're going to get a condo/cottage up there all together.

This year's trip was extra special for me. Throughout my childhood, my mom would pack up the 3 of us and we'd head up to Aunt Doe and Uncle Buddy's for the weekend. Aunt Doe and Uncle Buddy have the most awesomely-awesome house that rests perfectly on the edge of Lake Erie. It's one of my top 3 places IN THE WORLD. I'm not sure if it's the memories of being there growing up, the love of my great aunt and uncle or the serenity of the atmosphere. None-the-less...I love it there. I always have and always will... and being able to share the love of that place with my son and daughter (and my husband who equally loves it) is beyond wonderful.

Which leads me to the most priceless of all CIC-weekend memories... Behold... a memory in the making...(for all parties involved, I'm sure).

The Feeding of Grumpie, the seagull.

We've been doing this for as long as my memory allows me to remember. And etched in my memory is this very image about 20 some years ago when my little brother was Dylan's age. Sitting on the sidewalk's ledge feeding Grumpie hot dogs. It's that very ledge where I'd perch with my Great Aunt, or my sister, or my mom...or all of us and we'd prepare for a dip in the lake or bask in the sun or feed the seagulls, or watch the sunset. It's that same sidewalk where the 3 of us would scamper down to the "beach" as early as we possibly could to gather sea glass for my Great Aunt (which, she still has in the same jar) - I held Dylan's hand and we walked, just the two of us, down to that same "beach". I hope this is one of his earliest memories. I hope this is one of his favorite memories... because engrained in my head (and most definately in my heart) are the mirrored memories of my childhood visits to Aunt Doe and Uncle Buddy's and now, my children's visit to the same wonderful place.

I hear Wedding Bells... YAY!

2008-07-23T10:54:00.001-07:00

I blog alot about Dylan and Natalie ... well, because Natalie and Dylan are alot of what my day is... and recently, I have reason to be excited beyond the milestones and kiddo news... MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!

Now, if you know me - you know I live for weddings. I love planning weddings. I love all things wedding related. If wedding planning wasn't as time consuming as it is to do as a career... I'd be a wedding planner for the rest of my life. I had my wedding planned before I had a wedding to plan. People teased about my wedding binder - but, now that they're getting married...they're asking to seek the wisdom and knowledge of the secrets of my wedding binder (oh don't you worry... I'm putting yours together for you as I type!).

But it's more than the wedding planning ... It's that I am so excited for my sister - She's found someone who is her perfect match. Jeremy is what my sister needs - and Jolene is what Jeremy needs and that, in the words of Martha Stewart, is a GOOD THING. They laugh together, they share in the same interests and they know how to really enjoy everything in life - be it camping in their living room or touring Switzerland.

I like Jeremy - and unfortunately, with the happenings of my life in the past 2 years - it's left me very little time to really spend the time I'd love to have spent getting to know Jeremy the way my brother has. But, we've had our share of good conversations - you know between me chasing Dylan and tending to a baby Natalie... Jeremy knows how to talk to me - we talk food. He appreciates the magic of Michael Symon, of the tasty tidbits of all things delish at Fire/Moxie... of all things wonderful brewing in the Cleveland Food Scene.

So Jolene and Jeremy are engaged - planning for a wedding in about 11 months (or maybe a year) - and I'm restraining to hop in the SUV to drive up and take over all things wedding because I'm just a wedding junkie like that and can't wait to do all the fun things a Matron-of-Honor does...well, and more because I'm like that. But I'm being a good Matron-of-Honor and chiming in when needed...offering suggestions when asked...and being patient for the day when I get to do the duties I've spent my life waiting for!

Becuase...Gosh, no one like a Matron-of-Honor-zilla (hah).

but... anyway - Congrats JoJo and Jer! I'm looking forward to celebrating your love!

Sibling+Sibling = Forever Friend

2008-07-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

When Dylan first visited Natalie and I in the hospital after her birth - he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her... which in a sense, after hearing the horror stories of how the oldest sibling handles the newest sibling, I was quite fine with him not paying her 2-cent worth of attention! He was happier to be winning over the nurses because they had graham crackers and juice - Natalie had nothing to offer. And I was just happy that he was happy and not pummeling her up-side the head any chance he could. (maybe the percocet had something to do with being happy too)

Every once in awhile, he'll bat an eyelash in her direction, give her a moment's notice...but for the most part... my kiddos are in their own place.

On a rare occassion - I've had the chance to capture a single picture of the two of them in the same vacinity. It's rare...very rare. But when it happens - it's so sweet and worth the wait!

Until recently.

And it's fast becoming my favorite mom moment ever... I look forward to when they do it - I'm guilty of pushing the envelope to get them to interact. It takes my heart to heights never known...To hear Dylan say "follow me sissie" melts every ounce of my being. Seeing Natalie get excited and take off after him, finishes me off! I'm a wimp like that! (I have a video, but I can't figure out how to post it)

It's times like these when 2 things happen -

1. I realize how wonderful my sister and brother are. And how much fun I've always had with them growing up. Even our no-good-moments have now become funny (well, all except the piece of pencil STILL embedded in my leg thanks to my sister - that's STILL not funny). Whether or not I knew it growing up - or showed it while growing up - I am blessed beyond blessings with what the three of us share. The team of us 3 is a very reassuring thing...no matter the time or the place or the hour of night - I know that I can count on Jolene and Cory to be a shoulder to cry on, a ear to bend, a hand to hold and worth a good laugh (or two).

Which leads me to number 2...

2. I realize how lonely it would be being an only child - however, on a recent trip home, for the first time since my memory began - I was an only child. I loved it - now, granted I was an "only-child with 2 kids under 3" but none-the-less... it was nice...but it was lonely too. That's why I was so happy that my sister spent so much time with us. Being an only child is no-fun... and I am so happy that Dylan and Natalie will never be alone. They'll always have each other. And that my friends is more than a mother can ask for!

Now, please someone remind me of this in a couple years or so when I'm yelling at them to leave each other alone, stop teasing each other and to be nice to each other or I'll drop'em off at Berea Children's home... (it's an empty threat... but it works for a certain mom I know... haha I turned out alright... right?!)

she's on the move...

2008-07-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

where have the last 6 months gone?

I remember with Dylan that I didn't think Seth and I would make it through those long, drawn-out first 6 months. It was a dark place...thank God that we had our little Dylan to lighten it up for us!

With Natalie, I feel like I blinked in the hospital on December 16 and it's six months later... I just realized that she's closer to being ONE (!!!!) than to being born.

Now, I don't know if it's second child syndrome or survival of the fittest going on here... then again, in my mind Dylan was a baby genius... so why shouldn't Natalie be too...none-the-less, Natalie has just about taken off...
being ahead of the milestone charts in all the baby books and pamphlets from the doctor's offices. (....counting my blessings for my two healthy blessings...)

It started with a tooth...then scooting...then another tooth and crawling...and yesterday - she started babbling da-da-da, bu-bu-ba... (I'm thinking Dad and Bub-bah (our pet name for Dylan) and to top off all her milestones - She scaled the wall on her knees. Oh yeah... all that was in just one week!

Her personality is really starting to come out - she's a flirt (especially when it comes to little old men at farmer's markets!)... and a sweetie, she loves Dylan and Daddy and loves her Mommie more than anything! She has a sweet sass about her and she lets you know just what she wants...when she wants it. She's a cuddle bug and a wiggle worm and likes to laugh at Dylan. She's starting to "take over" Dylan's toys...and that leaves him with his hands on his hips saying "Sissie... that's mine". I'm having such a great time dressing her up in cute outfits (without her complaining like my mom has reminded me that I did when it came to outfits I wore as a child and now think are adorable for little girls...evil,evil cycle!) and spending Mommy and Nattie time together. She's eating, rice cereal, oatmeal, butternut squash, applesauce, sweet potatoes and most recent bananas.

I'm just amazed at how quickly it's flying by. There are times when the little ones are both in bed - and the laundry and dishes are (finally) done, I'm getting ready for bed and I go to check in one last time before I hit the hay... and I stand beside them, smelling like sweet sleeping babies - and I realize that before I know it - I'll blink and they'll be teenagers - and there will eventually come a day (hopefully, long long away) when it will once again be Seth and I - and I'll miss the milestones and the diapers and all that means kids. All the firsts, will turn into lasts... how can Motherhood can be gut-wrenching and rewarding all at the same time?!

I remember thinking that I couldn't wait for the next milestone and I remember telling myself (mostly with Dylan) "oh it will get easier when s/he's sitting up - crawling - walking - talking ...." and I'm starting to realize with Natalie ... that yes - it gets easier as the new milestones come and go ... but in the same breath, it gets more challenging. Especially with a headstrong 2 year old and a increasingly mobile 6 month old! I can't toddler-baby proof fast enough!

The easiest it ever was, was on day one while we were still in the hospital!

And I can't help but think - that for every milestone, both big and small, the kid's hit - it means as a mother, I'm hitting mine too!

Telling jokes with Dylan

2008-07-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Me: Knock, Knock...

Dylan: Who there? (making a very cute shrugging gesture)

Me: BOO (thinking of the easiest knock,knock joke around)

Dylan: Oh no... a Ghost... (runs away...laughing)

Ba-Dum-Dum.... he obviously tells jokes like his mother. :)

The Worst Parenting Day Ever

2008-06-10T19:20:00.001-07:00

It's so easy to talk about all the good parenting days, even though, now-and-then, they're laced with a mishap along the way. And I know, even on the very,bad, horrible, not good, very bad days - I'm still super lucky because I have 2 beautiful, healthy, brilliant babies and things could be bigger and badder than whatever child-rearing issue lashes out at that particular moment.
But, today was one of "those days"... a crappy day - literally.
Bright and early - Nattie wakes up and being still asleep, she joins us in bed for a little sleepin' nurse. Not so bad, because she's a snuggler and she smells good...like, well like baby.
Seth's alarm goes off (very annoying alarm, even after 8 years of being together... I haven't gotten use to how truly annoying it really is). Dylan goes off too from his doorway, not his usual bellow...but a whine... MOMMMMMEEEEEEEE, WAAAARE ARE UUUUUUUUUU? MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMEEEEEE... I position Natalie back in her crib (since she's asleep, maybe I'll get a few minutes between the two of them getting up today) and bring Dylan into our room to hang out while the 2 of us get ready for the day. As I step out of the shower, Seth is getting ready to head out, when he goes over to our bed, the bed I've just re-sheeted with fresh.crisp.wonderful sheets...and says "oh no there's poop everywhere".
Yes my friends... Poop. EVERYWHERE.
Poor little guy wasn't feeling well. Seth gets me a diaper, some wipes and another pair of pjs (mismatched, of course...and PJS??!?! WHA????)and says - Adios, I'm heading out...
It's at that very moment that I realized two things (mind you, I am wrapped in nothing but a towel still)...
1. I am the Mom... which means I'm the mom and I'm the only one here to clean up all the poop. No one is going to do it but me, it's only going to get done if I do it... because... I'm.The.Mom. alright....I'm the mom. I'm the mom...I can handle this.
2. I want my mom. I don't know why...but this just seemed like the thing to want at a big ol' crappy moment like this.
So I change him and cover him with kisses and snuggles now that he's fresh and clean... then I head off to his room to make his bed - which, uh...wha...nooooooooooooooooooooooo.... is covered in poop. and which has also been recently as of the day before "clean-sheeted". NO.NO.NO.
So I throw on some random pieces of clothes and pile up the laundry that needs to be stain-treated, disinfected and cleaned and take Dylan and the laundry downstairs... just in time for the TV Repair Duds (yes, Duds...not dudes) to knock ...
Dud 1 and Dud 2 come in - where I have all the materials I was asked to have ready, ready for them... they proceed to tell me that they can't do anything because the TV is mounted to the wall and it's against their policy to remove it... so I am supposed to call them back when the TV is un-mounted...however, they can't pick up the TV until Friday. AND the clincher - it will be with them for 7-10 business days... I have a 2 year old... some times the TV is my only link to the outside world...sometimes it's my only outlet to get a pottybreak...sometimes you just need to get lost in trash tv instead of being productive during nap time. seriously. This isn't going to happen... so I bid Dud1 and Dud2 an adiou and get a cranky Nattie up, dressed and fed.
I also get a call from my sis about a tire blowout...and when she's upset...I get upset. This also involves the brother... so it's a family affair. Fun.Fun...not fun.

The afternoon goes decently... a few breakdowns (from me and Dylan and Natalie... we take turns.) and then Nattie does her blow out... out the back of the diaper, through the cute outfit and straight on to the bouncy seat cover... lovely. And this all happens as dinner is a brewin' on the stove. So I persuade Dylan to go upstairs with me while I bathe Little Miss Poopie Pants - Seth comes home and I've completely (unknowingly) locked him out of the house.

I'm glad it's now 10:40 PM and I'm ready to start tomorrow, maybe it will be less crappy...literally.
But... still, there are moms out there who have such hardships and horrible struggles that I can't help but feel like my worst day would be one they'd welcome as a change of pace from the trials and tribulations they're going through. and for that, I guess I'm lucky that my worst day is all about poop.

The Love/Hate relationship of the Village of Sunbury

2008-06-03T19:28:00.002-07:00

So we've lived in the new house for just over 6 months. I'm settling in - making the needed adjustments, organizing and reorganizing accordingly to life in "the village". I've learned a little about how to get from here to there. I've found overly awesome shopping, the grocery store with the best deals (which just happens to be Kroger, which just happens to be what they are building like 3 seconds from my front door!). I've officially joined "the Sunbury MOMS" organization and gone to a handful of meetings and outings. Things are falling into place - slowly, but surely... I found an adorable Farmstand that sells Ohio Amish products and the BEST lunch meat/ deli cheese around for prices straight out of the pioneer days ($3.00 for a pound of Amish Honey Ham?!! Seriously... it's awesome). Our Saturday Farmer's Market kicked off last weekend (planning on attending this Saturday AM) to gather some eggs from the local farmers and maybe pick up a plant or two. The best of all though was the Butcher Shop at the end of our street that sold Ohio-raised meats that contained NO hormones or antibiotics... you have never tasted meat SO good. We bought 2 pounds of freshly ground beef for burgers, 6 bone-in chicken breasts (HUGE...) and 2 pork chops (for dinner that night) for $19.95. Seriously! So, last weekend after making my rounds to the 4 places I go to pick up food and other household necessities... I pull into the butcher shop (Butcher Bloch, names after the Bloch family who has owned and operated the shop forever...FOREVER.)... the sign on the door says CASH ONLY... ok.. cool, got cash. I walk in and the trays are empty. 4 frozen turkeys are sitting in the counter, random lunch meat is 50% off... and then it hits me, like one of the 10 pound frozen turkey's sitting there in front of me... OUT.OF.BUSINESS.
Ugh...must all good things come to an end?
Now I need to seek out some new meat. New. Cheap. Meat.
Sunbury... takes one step forward and two steps back in this love/hate relationship we have. Booo hooo.
(it's okay though... I suppressed my sorrows in a pint of Raspberry Cheesecake UDF ice cream, see... there is something good in breaking up! Eating a pint of ice cream with no guilt... and UDF is LOCAL...)

I Love Love.

2008-06-03T19:28:00.001-07:00

He knows just what to say to take this girl's breath away...
This past Sunday, Dylan gently placed his little hands on my cheeks, looked deep into my eyes and said ...
I Love You, Mommy.
I seriously melted into a puddle on our new furniture. All the love and kisses and hugs and cuddles I've given him over the past 27 months of his life (plus the 9 months in utero) - and he rewards me with the sweetest rendition of "those three words" I've ever heard!
What made it even better was when Dylan snuggled up in the crook of Seth's arm on the couch and said:
I Love You, Daddy.
Nothing is better. Nothing is sweeter...
The kid's makin' my teeth hurt he's so sweet!

We got a dog... well kind of...

2008-06-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Dylan's been really imaginative lately. And talking up a storm about this, that and the other. His vocabulary is skyrocketing, and my friends - I'm learning to hold my tounge and mind my P's and Q's around my little guy...since he repeats just about everything that Seth or I say. Eek!
He sings, he dances, he has opinions and ideas, he's a great debater - like when it comes to negotiating going outside (simply put he says "mommy hand, mommy outside... no ifs, ands or buts about it!)... and tonight, after dinner - my son transformed into our family pet - Jack the Dog. Who also had a brief identity crisis when for a moment, Jack the Dog decided to purrrrrrr a little, at that fleeting moment he was, Jack the Cat.
Now, we don't really have a dog. I'm not an "animal person". We had a dog, a very good dog before he decided to get all nutso and go for someone's jugular - (this is a touchy subject and I'd rather not get into the horrid details), but tonight we have ... Jack the Dog.
Jack the Dog likes to bark, he likes to lick feet (ok, he did this once and I freaked the freak out and Jack the Dog was told of cooties and has never licked feet again) he like to chase a tennis ball and attempt to carry it in his mouth, he likes to curl up in a bitty ball and sleep in the boppy. He's a very cute puppy. So Sweet, So cute, So trained... So my 2 year old son.
Ahhh.... the refreshing imagination of a 2 year old! What will he think up next?! Whatever it is - I'm going along with it - becuase, my friends ... it's pure entertainment!

an open apology to my son...

2008-04-03T11:09:00.002-07:00

dear dylan...
i’m sorry mommy got upset at you today at "time for twos" story time at the sunbury library. looking back on it - i realize that i was doing you a MAJOR injustice thinking that it would be something fun for you... becuase in all honesty... it wasn’t any fun. no.fun.at.all.
i can’t believe that "miss.fah-wan-da" thought that you would enjoy sitting in a chair for 45 minutes... and yes, i’m fully aware that her crappy sing-songy songs are so lame compared to how we rock out at home... and honey, if you want to dance ... you just dance until you can’t dance any more... life is for celebrating... even the little moments... celebrate! if teddy bear, teddy bear makes you want to jump and clap... then baby...jump and clap.
i’m sure it was ultra-dull for you to listen to that boring story - i was bored too... i’m sure that playing peek-a-boo behind a scarf is for babies like Natalie... you are sooooo beyond that... and don’t be sad that the other 2 yr olds didn’t want to be your friend right off the bat... they’re just shy, unlike your mommy and daddy...and obviously, you too.
i’m sorry that i told you that you were getting a time out when we got home. it’s not your fault that library time stunk. you were being you and i should have seen that... and being you is what is soooo wonderful about you...
So - i promise, after a day of feeling guilty for making you partake in such ultra-dull "fun" that we’ll steer clear of things that suck like "time for twos"... and hit up something fun and crazy ... like open gym and mom and me music classes... something that let’s your little light shine!

Mom Lingo

2008-04-03T11:09:00.001-07:00

say you are single, no kids... you’ll have no clue what i’m about to say... you’ll turn your head to the side like a sad little puppy and wonder what the heck i just said. that's ok... enjoy it while you can.... :)
say you are married or single, with kids, and your biggest accomplishment today was brushing your teeth and putting on something other than yoga pants and an old navy fleece, and you smell something funky and aren’t sure if it’s the spitup on your sleeve or an MIA diaper that’s nice and full...you are so gonna understand what i’m jivin’ about...
when i say boppy...you understand the imporatance of the comfort level in breastfeeding.
when i say pee-pee tee-pee... you laugh and we talk about projectile bathroom habits of little boys
when i say bumbo... you say i’m searching for one on craigslist or that you have one in your basement that is all mine.
when i say butt paste... you know right where to find it at in Target
when i write P-I-N-X-A-V ... you know that I mean "pink salve" and how it’s a god send for diaper rash
we can have a discussion about breastmilk poop - formula poop and rice ceral/solid food poop... and be serious about it.
when i say that i love the new Imagination Movers song and am wondering if the cd is out at barnes and nobles yet ... you reply, why yes..."juicebox heros" hit the stores on March 18.
you get the difference between baby einstein, little einstein’s and einstein.
you appreciate Noggin and get a kick out of moose e. moose and zee and know that the line of eduation lingo they feed you in the beginning of the show - is just a line of crap and that really - Franklin is really just 20 uninterrupted minutes for you to take a shower.
you have a favorite monster band song and you find yourself laughing over "ooh and ahh" over your morning cup of caffiene of choice...
so... to you other mommies (and daddies) out there...
thanks for getting me. sometimes it’s just nice to be understood!

A sign of the times...

2008-04-03T11:08:00.004-07:00

A sign of the times...
when i was little, we’d pass by a micky-d’s and the entire peanut gallery of my mom’s ford taurus would go nutso. we loved our golden arches...and i’m sure we weren’t alone...
my son has only ever eaten wendy’s and that has been on a dire - D.I.R.E - occasion... and only then does he get a kids meal - a chicken nugget kids meal that requires me to pick off all the msg-ladend breading ... fries... no, he gets mandrian oranges and 2% milk. so in an essance - he’s getting the most ultra-dull meal ever... though i have been inclined once or twice to splurge on the fast food treat and share a baby frosty with him... the entire time though i am cringing at what long term eating habits i’m instilling in him.
so - today, momma was in need of a little guilty pleasure... starbucks. becoming a mom makes you realize the simpler things in life really are the most pleasurable... like a grande, 120-degree, tazo chai latte with whip. heaven on earth... or well, at least heaven in my ford explorer.
so we pull up to the driveway of starbucks and my peanut gallery goes nutso. "star..bucks momma, starbucks" ahhhh, yes... master d is fully aware of momma’s finer guilty pleasures... i pull up and order my drink and make nice with the barista (ever since i read "starbucks changed my life... i can’t help but love the baristas @ starbucks)... his name is Ben, he’s cute...and very "g-a-y"... and he’s my new starbucks boyfriend... (bye-bye Bailey, the cute Polaris Parkway Barista from starbucks, bye-bye) ...
I feel guilt - like most mothers do... and so I order Dylan his over-priced organic juice box and a H.U.G.E. peanut butter cookie (to share with me of course).
And - Ben had me roll down Dylan’s window so he could give him his juice box... and I’ve never seen my son act so cool...so grown up.
i have just created a starbucks monster...
:)

the power of a good pair of underwear

2008-04-03T11:08:00.003-07:00

ok - so, i still have about 10 pounds of baby weight to loose to get to the point my doctor says is healthy for my height - I however would like to loose 20 pounds and get to my pre-pregnancy weight, BEFORE swimsuit season... and well... we’ll just see about that!
today is my first "feelin’ skinny" day since the birth of Nat.
And I owe it to my super UN-sexy panties.
oh yeah... they’re HOT. Nice Boring Nude color. Super Clingy, hide the baby-gut panties... they’re the kind that Victoria’s Secrets put on the run way like 100 years ago - you know... Ultra-conservative, Ultra-up-around-your-neck-to- suck-in-every-ounce-of-blubber-leftover-from-your-last-child panties... oh they’re good.
I know this becuase I didn’t have to lay on my bed this morning and suck in my baby-gut to zip my jeans. I also am breathing today while wearing my post-pregnancy jeans.
I also know that they are not booty-getting panties. They eat thongs and other sexies for lunch. Oh yeah - they’re that big.
Now... I wonder if I can find a pair of panties that will get me into my Long and Lean Gap Jeans that are a size 6...
hmmm... That may require some ACE wrap and these panties...

a quick blog to appreciate my boobs

2008-04-03T11:08:00.001-07:00

i was online today, reading about the latest "controversy" in baby gear... you know, keepin’ up with the lead paint recalls, the strangulation hazards, viagra in our drinking water and whatnot... when I came across an article about how baby bottles can contain this chemical PBA (it has some super long scienfic name but... whatever!)... so I’m reading about how using these bottles can possibly wreak havoc on our little one’s reproductive organs (eek!) yada yada yada... so i start reading more to seek out the solution they’re offering for this chemical warfare on our little ones... and the author’s solution - glass bottles...
so i google that and find this ultra hip company that makes glass bottles - for $18 a bottle? are you kidding me? it’s glass... G.L.A.S.S. - I have martini SETS that cost $18.
And it’s at that very moment I realized that once again - Breast is best... no chemicals in me! Easy to transport! Easy to heat! Doesn’t cost $18 (plus shipping, no doubt!) Momma’s Milk rocks. And that my friends is why I apprciate my boobs... they’re PBA-free and FAB-U-LOUS!
well and they are Porn Star Gy-Freakin-Nor-Mous right now!
(on a side note - do what’s best for you... I’m not in anyway preaching about breastfeeding - you know my stand and I’m not gonna force it on you - that being said it’s my bloggy-blog and I love breastfeeding and all it’s benefits thus I can write what I want.)
(on another side note - since I am a "breastfeeding, mother-pumping mama"... I will be purchasing some GLASS baby bottles... b/c doesn’t it seem like you’d be defeating the purpose of "natural" feeding by putting your "liquid gold" into a PBA-laced bottle?! eek... however - I will not be spending $18 on the said bottles... the hubs would most definately kill me for that purchase ...So please, take me to the closest BRU! Pronto!)

leaving home to come home...

2008-04-03T11:07:00.003-07:00

I just got home from my very long stay at my parents house with the kiddos while the hubs was in daytona beach for bike week. and i've gotta say - i miss good ol' bruns-tucky... and never in my life did i think i'd miss the place i couldn't wait to leave far behind me...
it was so nice to be where you know where the streets lead, where you know a girlfriend is just right around the corner, where you know the best deals are in your target clearance section... it's nice to have your mom right there to lend a helping hand and have your dad fix you a tasty meal. it's nice to share a night of skip-bo with your sister and brother like good ol' times.
there is something about sunbury i just don't love. not just yet at least - it's boring here. i have like one sorta-semi-girlfriend and we've only just chatted on the phone once or twice. i haven't explored much of anything except for route 3 that leads me right into polaris parkway, which in turn leads to some mass money spending going on at target and carters (and now with my new-found sewing ability... joanns!)
i know - i know ... it's winter, everyone is hibernating, everyone is going to magically appear this spring... well i sure hope so - because i'm not digging the anti-social behaviors i've seen thus far! ha! this is like mcmansion neighborhood...there are swingsets and fisher price toys lining every backyard... i thought life in the 'burbs meant plates of cookies for the "new folk" and friendly neighborhood chat. i mean - last week before i headed "home" i set off the alarm system in our house - and it screamed throughout the neighborhood... and no one came running to help me - i mean what if something were really wrong? like i broke my hip or something... (i don't know - i'm pulling here for something non-life threatening) i guess i just assumed that life in a "hood" meant neighborly neighbors. that may very well change - but until then - i'm not loving up on sunbury just yet.
but, going back to "b-town" - there is nothing like your home-home... the place where you grew up, where you have stories, where your familiar with. where you feel safe and loved... and although i know i'm safe and loved here in good ol' white bread Sunbury, USA... i can't help but feel more loved and more safe in brunswick.
they lie when they say "home is where the heart is"... because in my opinion...Heart is where the home is.

two

2008-04-03T11:07:00.001-07:00

two.
it's official as of 6:34 a.m. tomorrow morning - our little dylan will be officially a toddler...entering the wonderful world of the terrible twos.... Lord, give me strength, give me patience, give me a bottle of reisling and a dark room!
i really have to brag, that i think i have the most wonderful little guy - in the whole world... i'm biased, but today is my day as his mother to dote and brag... :) thus, i'm doting and bragging....
he's a great kid - he's so smart, he's so funny, he's sooooo everything that's sweet and good in the world.
it's the silly new sayings, his reasoning to the world, the way he eats, the way he sleeps, the way he just "is"... everything 'dylan' makes my world happier. (natalie plays into this too... but today's "his" special day....) the way he is so polite, the way he entertains himself, the way he uses his imagination and includes me in on the secrets of his play. the way he cuddles with me and wants to always hold my hand (he says 'hand, hand, hand) when we groccery shop.
i was noticing tonight as we were watching some "family tv" and reading every book in the book bin (there are like 47,000 books in the book bin) that he really is the friendliest little kid - no fear, no stranger anxiety, no separation issues... he just genuinely loves people (obviously he gets this trait from the both of us) and things. he says hi to everything. hi tree, hi choo choo train, hi daddeee, hi mommee, hi nah (this is Natalie's name). it's great, our little mr. personality.
who'dya thunk it... i remember holding him for the very first moment of his life - wondering what it would be like having him in our life. what he would be like... and every day that goes by, and he grows and develops his own personality, opinions and emotions, i can't imagine a world without my ray of sunshine.
even on the cloudiest of days - he lights up every corner of my life!
I'm so excited for what the next year holds...so many really cool things are going to happen... we're in a new place - with new opportunities to grow and develop and explore, there are so many really cool things in the world i can't wait to start sharing with him...the starts of conversations, of the "why...why...why" questions, the family vacations.... the possibilities for the next year are exciting!
so, here's to two....a "terrible" 365 days of it!
call me silly - but for some reason, i think that dylan will make the terrible twos terrific!

first of firsts, lasts of lasts

2008-04-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

where does the time go? it seems like just yesterday i was 9 months pregnant with dylan... counting down days to the due date, waiting to experience "becoming" a mom... then i blink and it's the first night, first week, first month... first smile, first roll-over, first pulling up on the furniture, first word, first step... and then he's off - running around the house, taking in every ounce of the world. first of all firsts, and now, he's approaching 2. i know it's not like he's heading off to college, or getting married or having kids of his own (lord - this momma can't handle any of that just yet...) but he's growing up, and too quickly if i were to have any say in it!
there are nights when i'm getting ready to fall asleep and i think about something cute he did that day, something he said, the way he and seth roughhoused... and i just feel like i need to jump up out of the bed and hold him...one last time before i sleep for the night. it's like my mommy-heart is going to explode if i don't give him just one last kiss for the night or stop in to check on him one last time, carefully placing nugga (the lion), bugga (the glowworm), moosey (obvious one here!) and memo (nemo) in their places, and pulling up his 'bankee'.
just recently i started thinking about all the firsts we've been through with him - and how exciting, and scary, and moving they've all been... then the sad thought of all mothers leaves it's grime-y little footprint in my head... sooner or later the firsts aren't firsts any more... they turn into the lasts.... the last time he nursed, the last time he fell asleep in my arms... in the future they'll be the last time i give him a bath before he wants to be a big boy, the last time he's home all day with me... the last time i feel his little hand in mine...the last time he needs nugga and bugga and memo (nemo)and moosey and his bankee...and so on. it's all very sad - this growning up thing...
they grow so fast - they learn so much... and i guess his growth is living proof that he's not the only one growing - every day that passes, is a day that i've grown as a mother.
when he was born - the emotions raced, i fell in love - a deeper love than i've ever known, i wanted all the best for him in his life, i never wanted him to hurt or be sad... i wanted him to know that he makes my world wonderful.
the day he was born - i realized that being a mom meant walking around with a heart so full of love that it might just explode with one more nano-ounce of all that is him. watching him grow, and learn and love makes me realize that my one wish for the world is that my child(ren) live a beautiful life. and i can't help but think how lucky i am to be along for the ride!
i can't believe that 2 has come this quickly - no doubt 2 will turn into 5 will turn into 10 will turn into 16....and so on. and as my friend amy said - there will ALWAYS be firsts - the first day of school, the first sports event, the first school dance... and so on... (that's my amy)
and like the commerical says .... life comes at you fast - i'm just feeling like that commerical where the dad is pushing his son on the swing and he goes forward as a toddler and swings back as a full-grown teenager.