Ben figured out how to jump tonight.

Whew. That's a relief, because I was afraid we'd have to send him to remedial jumping before he could start school! ;)

KIDDING, people, KIDDING.

Today is our five-year anniversary. It can't really have been that long, can it?

We are probably the only couple you'll meet who did this when they were pronounced husband and wife, high-fived on the way into the reception and then gleefully smashed cake as though it were a competitive sport. Yeah. That pretty much sums us up. (take that whatever way you want, positive or negative, but we happn to like casual, laid back, child-like "us")

Here's to the next five years being just as much fun! :)

Okay, so that song wasn't exactly universally appealing. Even for me, that one took two or three listens before I started thinking it was cool. But that's not what I'm aiming for with Kids' Music Wednesdays Musical Mondays. (thanks Jen for the suggestion). I want to encourage everyone to go beyond Wheels on the Bus (which is great, don't get me wrong... especially that bit about the babies on the bus... we love that verse over here.) ;) Point is, you might like it, you might hate it. That's the fun of Kids Music Wednesdays Musical Mondays! :)

I search high and low for the best kids' music... cd's that will keep my toddler entertained as well as me, since I usually have to listen to them at least a hundred times a week.

SO! I am now officially instituting Kids' Music Wednesdays. I'll share a track from one of our favorite cd's and maybe you'll find some new stuff to listen to too! Feel free to offer suggestions, I'm always looking for new music! You can only listen to Baby Beluga so many times...

Today's selection (which hopefully will work... I ripped it in ITunes and that doesn't always work out well when I try to share) is from Putamayo Kids: World Playground. We just got this cd today with a giftcard Ben got for his birthday. He already loves it!

Bongo Bong. Let me know what you think! :)

**update** All the baby stuff is up there now. Every last onesie. Every last bottle. Every last obnoxious Leapfrog Toy.
And here is my unsolicited advice for those you who haven't already made the same mistake we did.

1) Don't buy any toys yourself. Ever. Trust me when I say others will take care of this if it is your first child.

2) Resist the urge to collect all of anything. One Leapfrog toy is cute. 20 of them, especially when they sucked the life
out of every battery in the house and are piling up in the corner, NOT CUTE. Annoying. VERY annoying. Same goes
for Peekablocks. One set? Adorable. 30 sets + the ones that come with the giant Peek-a-Cube + the ones that
come with the Peekablock-eating Hippo = three boxes of blocks that your child never plays with.

3) Don't buy (you'd be breaking rule #1 anyway) or ask for anything that makes noise and lights up or needs batteries
for any reason. Yeah. The baby will think it's cool for about 30 seconds and then it will pile up in the corner with
the rest of the battery-sucking toys from #2.


Still working on moving all of our junk from the basement to the attic. Fun times.
And the attic is getting dangerously close to FULL, believe it or not. And I haven't even gotten to the boxes of wedding stuff/childhood stuff and Christmas stuff. Nope. It's all baby toys, baby supplies and nursery decor. I'm not sure we can FIT a second child in this house. And if we do, he/she will never be allowed to own anything new to add to our baby junk collection.

Get rid of things, you say?

Oh but I have. I just freecycled two bags of toys. TWO HUGE GARBAGE BAGS OF TOYS. I've also tossed at least five bags of stuff. (not all baby stuff, but still)

Gah.

Just wanted to say a big online thank you to Judy. She doesn't know us at all outside of the blog, but thought Benjamin would really enjoy this cd for this birthday. (it was one of her favorites when she was a kid). It arrived on Saturday and went right into the 6-cd rotation in the car. LOVE it. (Oh yeah, and Ben does too ;) It has "Going to the Zoo", "Boa Constrictor" and "Puff the Magic Dragon" on it. How can you go wrong?

I probably made her feel like I thought she was a serial killer because I wouldn't give out my address. (she had to use Ben's wish list to send it). But I have seen too many freaky episodes of CSI lately and have been more careful with personal info. I don't ACTUALLY think Judy is a serial killer, it's just a policy of mine now NOT to give out our info. Yeah yeah, I'm sure you could google us and probably mapquest us, but it makes ME feel better not to give it out myself anyway.

But I digress....

So anyway, thank you Judy! :)

Today was Benjamin's two-year checkup. He did better than he has in the past. Less crying, but a lot of "Go Mommy car!!!!!" (as in "Get me out of here NOW, woman!)
He is 24 pounds (25th percentile) and I don't know how many inches, but 10th percentile and his head is ginormous. The doctor asked me all kinds of fun questions this time like "Does he have any two-word phrases?" I didn't really need to answer that because Ben kept saying "Mommy car! GOOOOO mommy car!!!"

"Does he jump?" Umm no. He tries, but his feet never leave the ground.

"Does he eat with a spoon?" I'm embarassed to say that he only just started doing this on a regular basis. This is my fault. I hate cleaning up the mess.

"Does he walk up stairs?" Um. Yeah. Often when I'm not paying attention.

"One at a time?" How else do you walk up stairs? It's not like his legs are long enough to skip stairs anyway. ;)

"Does he eat vegetables?" Ya got me there. No. Not unless I disguise them REALLY well.

And on and on... I think we got an A. I'm not sure. The no jumping thing may have knocked him down a couple of toddler pegs. ;)

So anyway, he is healthy.

After that, we came home and he went right down for his nap. (woohoo!) I've been moving things from the basement to the attic. We've started with all the baby stuff... toys, clothes. Yada Yada. As I carried the infant seat, bouncy seat and floor mat thingy up, I realized I was probably tempting Murphy's Law by so carefully putting away and organizing all of the itty bitty baby things up there. Ten to one I have to go back up there by Thanksgiving or so because THAT is how Murphy operates. (no, that is *not* a hint of ANYthing, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. I'm just sayin'...)

We had dinner tonight at Nanee and Pap's house to celebrate Benjamin's birthday with his greatgrandparents, great aunt and his aunt and uncles... There was more gift-giving and more partaking of large amounts of sugar. Here are some of the highlights of Birthday 2 Part 2.

Deep in conversation with Uncle Marc.


A big hit -- the kid-sized guitar from his Great Grandad and Babby.


Yum! "Berfday cookie!"


Hanging with Uncle Marc and Aunt Krystyna, who Benjamin has now dubbed "Tina". A sidenote: He also serenaded her on the guitar singing "Teeeeeeeeeena Teeeeeeeena Teeeeeeeena" while strumming along.


"Tina" was actually among a series of new words uttered in the past few days. (the words are coming full force all of a sudden) Others include: Gigi (Aunt Gail), home, cool, hole, house key, cookie, moment, birthday, Disney, Marc (as in Uncle)... I know there are more but it's actually hard to remember them all now! (I never thought I'd be saying that!)

We visited a church this morning... it's actually our third visit to this particular church (last time was three years ago or so). When we first checked it out, they were in the middle of searching for a new minister and it's kind of hard to get an idea of whether or not you can go to a church every week when you have no idea who will be filling that position.

At any rate, they have since found one and he seems wonderful. The sermon was relevant and not long-winded. The church itself is adorable and just big enough so that you don't have to stand out if you don't want to, but small enough that you can really get to know many of the people.

It's the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary... which solves the problem Tom and I have been having throughout this church search. He was brought up in a very traditional church, and I in a more contemporary church. It's like this place was made for us.

And the Sunday School... well, that's the best part. It's small. It's organized. It's clean. It is run by friendly, helpful people. AND... it meets IN the preschool where Ben will be going in September. So he'll get used to going there without mommy AND he'll get to know some of the kids he will be in school with. It's also very safe... I need a card to pick him up and they gave me a pager in case they needed me during the service. Bless them for catering to paranoid first-time mothers!

The whole place just gave me a good feeling... there was a children's choir that performed two songs during the service and I could totally see Ben being a part of that when he is older. (or wanting to be a part of it myself, working with the kids)

We'll go again next week.... but then we're out of town for a weekend and the next weekend is Easter Sunday and we always go to church with Tom's parents. But after that, I'm excited that we'll be getting into a church routine. It's been too long since we've really been to church on regular basis. And as a married couple, this will be the first time Tom and I will have had a church to call our own instead of going to one or the other of our old churches.

Yay!

Ben got in a little extra playtime because we showed up around 2'ish to set up. Though napless, he was psyched about this.

By 2:45 all 8 of our little friends had arrived and were de-shoed (along with all their adult escorts). The playing and high pitched squealing commenced.

Around 2:50 I heard "that scream" from the birthday boy. The one that means there is blood involved and possible missing teeth or a broken limb. I scanned the room and saw Tom hightailing it to the bathroom with Ben in his arms. I tore across the room, pausing only to ask a few people what happened. I heard my mom's friend Hope say "bloody mouth" and kept running. The verdict: a fat lip and a lot of blood, but all teeth still in place. Whew. It seems he tripped over a mat and fell flat onto the floor. You know, I have taken him to that place EVERY week since October and he has never done more than bump his head. It figures on his birthday, he'd actually injure himself. But at least we didn't have to head to the ER.

Once the birthday boy was patched up, there were some games... they made an imaginary birthday cake with bean bags (flour), balls (eggs) and cones (candles). They went "fishing" on the bridge, ran up the air log and jumped in a hole, played the freeze game and danced with Gymbo. Parachute time was a big hit with songs and bubbles and a ride around and around. (Ben's favorite).

It was a lot different from our class (read: chaos at times) because the kids ranged in age from 1-almost 3 and because with the exception of two of them, they weren't familiar with the routine. The room was also packed with adults so it was lot more crowded than usual.... but everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. The only complaint was from the menopausal crowd who kept saying they were hot. ;)

After playtime, we had snacks, sang Happy Birthday, had cake and opened presents. Wisely, the Gymboree teacher had put down a giant tarp under the kids' tables. Brilliant! I need one of those for my kitchen.

We sent the kids on their way with goody buckets (each filled with a beach ball, a shovel, bubbles, Finding Nemo stickers, a crazy straw, goldfish crackers, Nemo fruit snacks, a party blower and a mixed cd of Gymboree/Under the Sea'esque songs.

Then we came home a crashed. All of us.

Thanks to all of you who came. We loved spending time with you and we hope you had as much fun as we did! :)

I don't even have the energy for a real post. Here, just look at the pics. Ben crashed when we got home and is STILL napping...

Hooray, hooray, it's party day! ;)

Ben, of course, knows something is going on and WON'T NAP. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

We've picked up the Nemo cake, Nemo balloons, ice and drinks.

Will Ben nap at all? Or stay up and be a total crab (staying with the Nemo theme here) at his party? Stay tuned!

**update** He's in his crib saying "Berfday" over and over again. Ugh. This does not bode well.

Official Birthday Chair Picture ;) I said, "say cheese" and this is what I got. Yeah, we are in trouble with Mr. Ham here. I know it. Really, you don't need to remind me.



Also, just prior to me taking this picture, he started saying "berfday". Then he moved onto "berfday... m's?" as if because it's his birthday I'm going to give him M&M's or something. Okay, fine. I totally did. Who could resist that?



**update**
Here's a little video from this morning when I went in to get the birthday boy from his crib. Here, for the first time EVER, he actually held up two fingers and told me he was two! Then he explains that his Cabbage Patch Doll (Reginald Andy, in case you were wondering) is also two. After that, he goes off on a tagent about mommy's car, daddy's car and NaNee's car... ;) Enjoy!

Today is the day! He's 2! He's 2!

Pictures coming later!

Also a big happy birthday to Ben's bloggy friend Connor who shares his big day!

There are a lot of things about pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood that people tell you before you actually go through with it. You listen to them and you think, "I have NO idea how that could possibly be true." But the people who tell you these things have been there, done that and you have to kind of admit that it's quite possible they know what they are talking about.

A few examples from my own personal experience:

1) "Oh, you won't care what sex the baby is once you have it."

I will confess, I was very much wanting a girl the first time around. I had convinced myself I was having a girl (even though my gut and my dreams told me otherwise). When they told us at the 18-week ultrasound we were having a boy, I almost cried. I went back to work that day and sat stunned and near tears at my desk the rest of the afternoon. Whatever was I going to do with a boy? I loved my girl name I had picked out, I had visions of my tomboyish daughter running around with little pigtails. But no, I was having a boy. Today, when I reread my post from that day, I remember writing it and how I was trying so hard to put up a good front... when I was really feeling alternately disappointed and then guilty for feeling for that way. All of my coworkers reassured me I would love my little boy --that it wouldn't matter to me once he was in my arms. I nodded and smiled and hoped they were right. My doctor told me this. My mother told me this. Everyone in my life who had ever had a child told me this.

They were right. Now I can honestly tell you that I wouldn't have wanted Ben to be anything other than what he is. My little boy. And now I think about things like how he'll be a big BROTHER someday and if I do ever have a little girl, she'll have a big brother and how wonderful is that?


2) "You won't care that the epidural is a giant needle being shoved into your spine. You'll just want the pain to go away."

My fear of the epidural never really swayed me from wanting one as soon as I could get it. But everyone assured me that I simple wouldn't care one iota by the time I needed it.

Again, they were right. Two hours into pitocin-induced contractions, I could no longer talk through them. My forward-thinking nurse had called the anesthesioligist WELL in advance. He started to explain to me what he was going to do and with what and what I might feel and I practically cut him off, "Okay! Let's go! Needle in the back NOW please!"

3) "You don't need the warmer for the baby wipes."

Oh but you do! It's so cool! And those un-warmed wipes must be so cold on a newborn's little behind.

Okay, so I never actually bought the wipes warmer. But I can think of countless other things I DID buy that turned out to be useless dust collectors. Fact is, a newborn needs a clean diaper, a few little tshirts and gowns, milk in whatever form you choose to provide it, and their mommy. That's really basically it for awhile.

I hate admitting they were right. I realize now I didn't even really need a stroller. Sheesh.

4) "You don't know what tired is until you've had a newborn..."

PUH-lease. So you stay up a little late and wake up a couple of times in the night. How bad can it be?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Bad. Bad enough to make you want to return the baby to the hospital the first night. Bad enough to make you yell at your husband (who has been nothing but wonderful since you had the baby) and wake him out of a sound sleep to help you. Bad enough to make you think you'll never sleep again. Bad enough to make you feel like you're completely alone. Bad enough to make you think you ruined your marriage and your life by having this baby. Yeah. Tired will make you think crazy thoughts like that.

5) "... but it gets better."

No way! It's just too horrible. How can this possibly get better? I have this little person who just SCREAMS at me all the time and seems like he hates life and I quit my job and ruined my marriage to just sit here and be screamed at for 8 hours a day.

And then the baby starts to sleep a little more. You spend less time on the couch in the middle of the night and more time in bed with your husband. You get into a routine and the hormones stabilize a little. One day you wake up NOT feeling so tired. And it gets better. And you think, "Darn it. They were right AGAIN."

6) "You'll forget the pain."

As I was pushing Ben out, I said to my doctor and the nurse who was holding one of my legs, "I don't know how people do this more than once. This is the most awful pain I have ever experienced." They smiled and didn't say anything.

A week later, I was still feeling like a truck hit me, the baby wasn't sleeping and I said to my husband, "I can't imagine ever doing this again. This is awful."

A month later, I said to a friend of mine, "I keep hearing about this mommy anmesia, but I can still remember everything vividly enough to wait a LONG time before going through that again."

Eight months later, I said to my husband, "The pain wasn't THAT bad. I can't wait to try it again someday because I think I could manage it better." I thought he was going to drive me to the mental hospital and have me commited right then.

A year and a half later, my best friend was pregnant again and I said, "Hrm. I'm not ready to do it again right this second... but I think soon."

There is no explanation other than mommy amnesia. Why are they ALWAYS RIGHT?!

And lastly... the one that has been replaying in my head for a few months now...

5) My friend Amanda and I took our OB out to lunch when the babies were just 7 months old, and my doctor said to me, "Eventually you'll want another one. And then you'll get pregnant and you'll panic because you'll think, 'How can I EVER love another one as much as I love this one?' But then #2 will be born and you find that you just do." I think at the time, I just laughed it off and took a bite of my eggroll.

Flashfoward to today. I'm not pregnant again, but I've already had this thought. My child takes up so much of my heart... I worry about him, I have hopes and dreams for him, I love him SO much. How will I EVER be able to feel this way about another? Not that I ACTUALLY don't think I can love another child. But wow. It's just overwhelming to think about feeling that strongly and caring so deeply for TWO little human beings.

"They" obviously have good track record for being right, so I am taking it on faith that it works itself out... now, if I could just wrap my head about how you manage taking more than one out to the grocery store...

Gymboree today. When you ask Ben what today is, he says, "Bee! Round and Round!" (sounds like "Bee, wow wow!")
We get a double dose of "bee" this week because Ben's birthday party is Saturday! :) We're pretty excited to celebrate and to share a day of Bee with Ben's toddler friends.

We're working on him being able to tell people how old he is. Right now, if you ask him, he always says, "Hot" while trying to hold up two fingers. Not really sure what that's about. But last night, Tom and I discovered that we can get him to repeat almost anything if we say: "When I say X you say Y!" "X!" It started with Tom just being goofy and saying "When I say ho, you say ha!" and he did it. So all morning we've been been play "When I say "toe" you say "two"!" ;)

I'm growing ever more sure that my next door neighbor (a.k.a. frat-boy/late night backyard drinking game playing/doesn't fit in in a neighborhood of young families guy) is getting ready to put his house up for sale. Out of nowhere, he has started throwing things out and making trips to the dump. His backyard is cleaned up and there have been friends of his in and out witih tools and ladders on the weekends. His deck is piled up with boxsprings and various other things he appears to be getting rid of. (I'm not really that nosy, I can't help but notice what's on his deck when it's about three feet from my own) I figure he's either moving or he got bitten by the spring cleaning bug. I'd rather he move, but cleaning up isn't bad either. If he plants flowers and actually trims his bushes I just might pass out from the shock.

Anyone want to live next door to us? We're really good neighbors. We don't park in front of other peoples' houses, the only gratuitous noise you'll hear from our house is a crying baby on and off for the next few years. We take our trashcans inside in a timely fashion, we mow our lawn have our lawn mowed regularly. We plant pretty flowers and I'll even bake you cookies when you move in. If you have kids, I'll bake you a double batch with extra chocolate chips. We'd love to see another family move in. Enough with this frat boy stuff! It's a great house (so I hear). They have a marble fireplace, hardwood floors on the whole first floor, finished basement, a loft and built-ins all over the place. We can share sugar, gossip about the annoying guy across the street who sells cars from his house, and take walks with our kids. Think about it and get back to me! ;)

oo! A van just pulled up and started unloading carpet and padding! New carpet is a good sign they are getting ready to sell! Oo! oo!

I know The Naptime Gourmet was slow for a couple of weeks there.... I have trouble compartmentalizing my web projects and was spending all my time on my freelance stuff. (a.k.a., the stuff that makes me $$!) But, TNG is moving again and there are some good new recipes and a couple of reviews. Go visit and contribute, because my sister-in-law and I are starting to get lonely over there, not to mention carpal tunnel from all the recipe typing.

He's been quietly creating these videos in my parents' basement for a year now and uploading them to YouTube. He got 12,000 hits to these just YESTERDAY. I seriously don't know whether to be impressed by the acting/voice talent that I had NO idea about or just plain frightened that we share genes. (not the ones that carry the acting skillz, obviously)

Star Trek: First Contact

Home Alone

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The Breakfast Club

As Good as It Gets

Actually... it's more like Dress-up, Painting and Circle Time....

So I'm sending off the deposit for the preschool today. It's only one day a week for two hours, but yesterday I was still wrestling with whether or not 2-1/2 is too young for something like this.

I think maybe for ME as a child, it would have been too early, and that's probably what was affecting how I was thinking about it. But Ben seems almost unaffected by new situations and strange people, (especially if there are toys involved) and he craves social interaction (where DID he get this?) so I think this will be good for him. He'll learn how to behave in a group without mommy there hovering over him telling him what he can and can't do.

So the school is really adorable. When we visited the 2's room, they were having Circle Time, where they talk about the theme of the day and various other things. Looked like a group of typical 2-year-olds... some were fidgety, some tried to wander off, some sat quietly. Then it was snack time and they all jumped up and took their places at the tiny table in the middle of the room. The classroom was clean and bright and colorful and had little centers for everything. A book corner, a quiet time corner, a kitchen set, a music listening corner.... there was a growth chart on the wall with all of the kids' pictures and names and all of the kids had their own labeled cubby. The director made a point of telling me that September is a big adjustment time, especially for the 2's, but that they really pick up on the routine quickly and learn to put their things in their cubby and participate in the group activities.

The 3-year-olds' classroom was equally as cute and organized and the pre-k room was even CUTER. They had a whole rack of really cool dress-up clothes. The kids from that class were off on a "dinosaur hunt" when I was there and they looked like they were having a blast.

The big hit for Ben, other than the kitchen set and the classic Fisher Price barn that moo's that he found in one of the rooms, was the hole. In the main hallway of the school, there is a big circle cut out of the wall. Inside is a carpeted area that makes the world's greatest hiding place. The director told me me that when she first saw the plans for the school and asked, "What's with the hole?" the designer said, "Just wait... you'll see." And she says now it's the first thing all the kids head for. Of course, since "hole" is Ben's new favorite word, he ran down the hallway at breakneck speed and proved her right. "Hole! Hole!" and he climbed right in. TOO cute.

Ooo! Here's a pic of the hole for your viewing pleasure.


So we're going for it. Now the question is, what will I DO with myself for 2-1/2 hours on Fridays?!

**update**

* Ben eventually did get out of his crib, in case you were wondering.

* The cat has not yet thrown up again (at least that I have found. He is currently downstairs wolfing down kibble, so we'll see how THAT goes.

* The preschool was ADORABLE. I have to talk it over with Tom, but I'm pretty sure we'll sign Ben up for September. What cracks me up is that Ben was totally ready to dive in right then. Nope. This kid isn't shy. (one gene of mine he didn't get!) More on preschool later.





... for Ben to decide he wants to get out of his crib. I guess I should just shut up and be grateful he slept there last night instead of in our bed, kicking my spleen. (and to think I thought that part was over once I wasn't pregnant anymore!)

... for the cat to throw up again. He did it sometime last night at the top of the basement stairs. I realize now that it's probably NOT just something he ate. Now I'm pretty sure it has blood in it. And I'm thinking that can not POSSIBLY be good in any way. Anyone have thoughts on what can cause this because I haven't read anything in the cat kidney issues material about throwing up blood being a symptom.

... for it to be time to take Ben over to visit the preschool I found! The session starts in September and they have a two-year-old class with openings! (it's only one day a week for two hours) I'm so excited! I hope we both like it when we visit. It's at the little church we've been thinking about going to anyway, so that's even better.

... okay, this isn't a "waiting for" anything but while perusing that church's website, I had to giggle when I saw that they "podcast" their sermons. C'mon. That's funny.

- the basement bathtub
- the side of the litterbox
- just outside of the litterbox
- in a trail leading out of the laundry room
- the kitchen floor
- the foyer
- possibly the master bedroom next to the bed, but that may have just been pink vomit. I'm not sure. Then you have to wonder what a cat ate that caused pink vomit.

Luckily, all but the last incident occurred on hard surfaces and were easy to clean up. And now I have to figure out how/why the new cat food the vet gave us is causing pink vomit because that's ALL the cats eat. Well, except for the ocassional piece of plastic or giftwrap.

If you asked me right now, I'd say that I do not think I will get any more cats after these two go to the giant litterbox in the sky.

I'm a morning person, I am. But not at 6 a.m. Er... 5:50 a.m.! Ben was in bed with us (again), which is a whole other post because it seems we're going to have to try some tough love tonight. I can't take being bicycle kicked in the head all night again. Typically this sharing our bed thing lasts through a teething episode (a few days) and goes back to normal. But this time, I fear it has become a routine that must be broken.

Anyway... at 5:30, The Cat of Many Neuroses came in and started meowing LOUDLY. He does this. A LOT. And it's really REALLY irritating. I threw a pillow at him, but it had little effect, other than to move the loud meowing to the other side of the room. Ben starts giggling, apparently in his sleep. But by 6:05, he was wide awake, sitting up and talking about meow meows and daddy. (who was missing because he was getting ready for work)

Still only semi-conscious, I threw Ben over my shoulder and delivered him to his crib. He was not pleased with this and wailed and wailed about going back to mommy's bed. Luckily, my heart is stone cold hard when I've been awakened from a dead sleep entirely too early in the morning, so I just closed the door and headed back to bed.

Yet the sleep? It did not return. And now I am awake. I do have coffee, which is something, I guess.

Out of principle though, that child is not getting out of his crib until 7:30. And the cat has been banished to the basement (after I filled his water bowl with clean, cold water, of course, and made sure there was food, because I'm not entirely heartless)

Upon being released from his crib after failed nap attempt #1, Benjamin peeked out of his bedroom door, saw Tom up in the gaping ceiling hole and declared, "Daddy hole!" Just thought I'd share. Somehow, nap attempt #2 has been successful, despite the banging and drilling in the hallway and the worker bees who keep forgetting there is a sleeping kid in the next room.

The couch is still there. My new hopeful theory is that they are preparing to sell the house. They seem to be doing a lot of hammering over there. (it's times like this I just LOVE being attached to someone else's wall, really). That's okay, we're doing plenty of revenge-hammering over here anyway with the attic project.

Speaking of the attic project, there is still a hole in the ceiling. It's very drafty upstairs for the time being. I guess a giant hole in the ceiling leading to a mostly uninsulated cement room will do that. We cranked the electric blanket up to high last night and Ben ended up joining us around midnight because HE was freezing too. But, unless they hit any more snags (our house seems to be full of snags) it should be finished this afternoon.

Looking forward to it. And I'm feeling very appreciative of the handiness of both my brother-in-law and my father-in-law, without whom a giant drafty hole in my ceiling would still be a pipe dream.

Our neighborhood has a homeowner's assocation that is HARD CORE. We've personally been busted for something as small as leaving a ladder out back overnight. What really burns my britches is that my next door neighbor? They just don't seem to notice his transgressions.

Exhibit A:


If I were trying to sell my house right now I would really REALLY ticked off.

I'm going to tattle on him to the Homeowner's Militia tomorrow morning if it's still there. Oh yes. I'm SO that neighbor. That's what he gets for throwing loud parties until 3a.m. in the summer.

**update** I was gone for a couple of hours and came back home to find .... well, a hole in the ceiling. See picture. Also please note that NEITHER one of the people pictured here actually working are my husband. That's my brother-in-law and my father-in-law. As for my husband? Well.. his job, apparently, is "to hold things". ;) My brother-in-law came over because (to quote Tom) "the power hammer wasn't working". I couldn't seem get a straight answer as to why they couldn't just use a REGULAR hammer. (except: "the power hammer is just cool.")


**update** There is a very large hole just outside of our bedroom. Through it came gobs and gobs of insulation. No squirrels or other wildlife have been found yet. So I guess that's something. Tom and his dad just ran out to Home Depot to get 2x4's to "move a roof joist". That sounds like a pretty big deal, doesn't it? Can you even DO that? I'll keep you posted.



Tom and his dad (umm... probably mostly his dad... shhh) are putting stairs in our attic today. I'm beyond excited about this. Why? Because when it's finished? I will reclaim my laundry room, the laundry room closet and ALL of the under-stairs storage in the basement. It is the beginning of an organization domino effect. Attic stairs in, baby stuff/Christmas stuff/other random crap will go UP.... shelving will be installed in the laundry room/under the stairs. Board games and other things currently cluttering the basement family room will occupy said shelves. Just talking about it makes me downright giddy.

I know, it's sad, really.

Ben is SO whiny today. I'm hoping for early naptime, which might be difficult considering the attic stairs are going in six feet from his bedroom door.

I seem to have tamed it bit and now it happily tucks behind my ears. Happy now. Whew.


Btw, I realize that the hair cut did not help me look any closer to 29 than I did before. In fact, I think it may have pushed it back from 15 to 14. Oh well. I guess I'll take the advice of the 50'somethings in my life and appreciate the "youthful" look. (grumble) It'd just be nice to not get carded at the movies, ya know?

Just came in from a walk outside witih Ben, who tripped and fell over air? dust? Who knows. It was nose vs. sidewalk. Yeah. Not pretty. But at least he has all of his teeth. He's (hopefully) taking a nap now.

I am not loving my hair as much as I was yesterday. I can't seem to get it do what it did for the stylist. It's staticky, and because it's short, the static keeps making it look mushroomy. I always have the mushroomy problem right after I first get it cut, but it's especially bad right now. I'm growing ever more and more annoyed that the back is shorter than the front...

I even went out and got mousse (I am SO not a hair product kinda girl) and a big huge hairbrush to try and combat the static/curl issues I have.

I hope I do not pass my hair gene down to my children. It's one that should really be selected out, frankly.

I'm sure it will all be okay in a couple of weeks when it grows out just a little. But right now I am feeling very self conscious, like I'm showing a little too much neck or something.

Picture later if I can manage to take one I don't hate. Gah.

I've been having trouble coming up with titles for my posts lately, so there you go.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This day ranks right behind July 4th as my favorite holiday. Between the fact that it falls right after my birthday and that the decorations all say "Erin Go Braugh", I really used to think this was a holiday just for me. I don't even think I have any Irish ancestors, but oh well.

Poor Tom. He works in an office comprised almost entirely of Irish Catholics. They play "Kill the Protestants" Irish music all day long. (to make fun of Tom and be funny, not because they really want to kill any protestants) This year, at least he has his brother with him to take some of the heat. ;)

We're going to the annual O'Graff (hee) family St. Patrick's Day dinner this evening. Reubens and sauerkraut. (actually, I think the sauerkraut goes ON the Reubens and I said I'd give it a try this year, though I really think sauerkraut smells like feet)

In other news... the hair. My usual stylist (I use that word loosely since I don't really so much get my hair "styled" as I just go in, get shorn and get it blow dried) is on vacation, so I tried another one because I was at that point where I was ready to shave my head if someone didn't do something PRONTO.

She actually gave me magazines to look through and let me show her what I like. It's not too much different from the usual cut/length I get, but she added some layerish things at the bottom, made the back a little shorter than the front and "stacked it" in the back (apparently to give the illusion that I have thicker hair). I think I can actually call it a "style" this time. I also agreed to let her help me grow or thin my bangs out and "sweep them to the side". We'll see how that goes. I have tried growing them out in the past but they start to really bug me when they get to about nose length. I also have a bad habit of trimming them myself when this happens. Let me tell you, the hair stylists? THEY HATE THAT. I have to hear about it every time I go in! While they still have the initial horrified look on their faces, I like I add that I did it with kitchen scissors. You'd think I just told them I liked to torture kittens or something.

I'll post a picture of the hair later. You'll probably be surprised by the length, but keep in mind, I get it this short about twice a year so I can let it grow for five months until I'm sick of it again. I just don't post enough pictures of myself for you all to see it at its shortest.

And now, for the obligatory Ben story, since he is the Baby Human for whom I keep this blog. He has suddenly taken an interest in undressing himself. Two nights in a row now I have turned around to find him wearing no pants. He thinks this is hysterical. Last night, he also managed to de-shirt and de-sock. He tried to de-diaper as well, but that where I put an end to his fun. Tom came home to the naked toddler dinner scene and commented that it was starting to look like an episode of Nanny 911. (Ben was also whiny and cranky because his nap was cut short yesterday). He's right... if you pay attention almost all episodes of Nanny 911 involve children who refuse to stay clothed. ;) In Ben's defense, he also seems to have taken an interest in putting his pants back ON, though he has not yet been successful in getting more than one leg in. But he's working on it. These are major life skills he is mastering here! ;)

I am 348 months old today! Accomplishments this month include:
* learning to drive a minivan
* securing two freelance jobs
* installing a cat door

I am still completely impatient. I still don't like talking to people I don't know. And with a few exceptions, I LOATHE talking on the phone. I also still often get mistaken for 180 months old. This is annoying... I think I might go buy some makeup this month to try and combat that. I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon. (same old same old... every six months I get it cut back to about chin length...) But maybe... just MAYBE this will be the month for something different? Yeah, I doubt it too. ;)

Happy 348 Months to me!

Ben now makes these song requests...

Doodah! = Zipadeedoodah

and...

Huku Tata! = Hakuna Matata

;)

This afternoon I was checking my email and Ben was building a tower... out of nowhere he stood up and started running across the room toward me saying, "Teeko! Teeko! Teeko!"

I replied, "Teeko? What's that mean? Show mommy!"

He climbs up onto the couch next to me and proceeds to tickle my neck all the while saying, "Teeko! (giggle) Teeko! (giggle)"
TOO CUTE.

Then... when Tom came home, I told Ben to go tickle daddy. So he runs over to Tom saying "Teeko Teeko!" again.

THEN (oh yes, it gets better!) he comes out with, "Teeko Daddy!!" "Teeko Mommy!"

And lo, a two-word phrase was born.

Hooray!

Actually, he added another new word today too. "Buddy". (which is what I call him all the time when we're out together) He says it so cute too: "BuuuuuuuhhhhdEE!"

This past weekend's new word was "Apple" And yesterday he came out with "AppleBEE", which is apparently NOT a reference to the chain restaurant whose nacho platter I LOVE, but instead, seems to mean "Applejuice".

Dare I say that THIS.... is.... the verbal explosion?!?!?! Finally! Yipee!!! Yipiee!!!

**update** The skunk smell is DEFINITELY coming from the attic. Anyone? Anyone?

Today was SUPPOSED to be the day 'o rain, during which I could stay inside and clean my house and NOT feel bad about wasting a whole day indoors. But nooohohoho.... the sun went and came out. It is a little cold and windy, but still, the sun beckons.
:: sigh :: I did get one bathroom cleaned and Ben's room vacuumed, so I guess that's something.

While Ben is napping, I'm trying to solve the mystery of Why Does My Closet Suddenly Smell Like Skunk?

No really, it's driving me insane. Right when the weather started to get warm and I had the windows open (Friday? Saturday?) I opened my side of the master bedroom closet and noticed this weird smell that I really can only describe as "skunk". Not sure if/why there is a correlation between it being sunny/having the windows open and said skunk smell... but that's when it started.

Does anyone have ANY ideas what can cause this? My first thought was that the Milo - the cat with sneaky bathroom habits - was hiding something in there for me, but that doesn't seem to be the case, nor does it really smell like that. Then I thought I remembered reading once that when moths get into your clothes they can cause a weird smell... so I pulled my wedding dress and a few other things out, but all seems moth-free. The (useless) attic access panel is just above that closet, so maybe it's some smell seeping in from outside. The weird thing is that the smell is ONLY in the closet.*

Home ownership makes me crazy sometimes. I hope this is nothing that is going to cost money!


*my house is VERY VERY clean. I promise. I have NO idea what could be causing this. I vacuum, I scrub, I wipe down, I disinfect... regularly. Please don't not come visit me because my closet smells like skunk. ;)

Chocolate covered strawberries after dinner proved to be a hit.

It's 75 degrees out today. 75! I stepped out the front door in a short sleeved shirt this morning expecting to have to turn around and get a jacket but it was already WARM. Weird, I tell ya. Weirder still, the weatherman says it might snow later this week. The March weather here in Baby Human Land is schizo.

All the warm sunny weather is lovely, but it's wreaking havoc on my allergies. I've been just SITTING here since I put Ben down for his nap because my head hurts too much to move. No need to recommend allergy medicine, I've tried it all. What doesn't keep me awake all night and make my heart race either makes me sleepy or doesn't work at all. :: sigh :: I have a love/hate relationship with spring.

When Ben gets up, I'm going to suck it up and we'll go outside. He'll have a blast just running up and down the sidewalk. I wish some of the other neighborhood mommies would come out hibernation so we had people to play with!

Okay, actually, I like church. I grew up with church. Church is great.... except for one part. And it doesn't matter what KIND of church we go to... from the most formal to the most informal... they all do it in one form or another.

The Peace. Or, as they like to call it in the less formal churches, "Stand and Greet". The more informal title does not make it any less intimidating/annoying for me.

I. HATE. IT.

I could do without The Peace/SAG and still feel quite sufficiently "churched" thank you very much. I hate having to shake hands with people I don't know. I hate having to TALK to people I don't know. I seriously sit in my pew/chair (again, depending the church) and just dread it. My usual strategy is to Peace/SAG all the family members/friends in the immediate vicinity and then busy myself with something silly like "oops! I dropped my program on the floor... I better take a moment and pick it up... very.... slowly. OH! The Peace is over? Darn it. Look at all those people I didn't get to touch/talk to! Oh SHOOT." It helps to have Ben with us because there is ALWAYS a reason to busy myself with him and thus make myself unavailable for any gratuitous Peacing/SAG'ing.

Anyone else feel my pain? If I ever started my own church, that's the first thing I'd get rid of. I'm pretty sure God wouldn't care. it's not like shaking peoples' hands is a commandment or something. ;)

In other church news, I'd like to rave about Sherwood Episcopal's switch (temporarily?) from regular communion wafers to pieces of whole wheat pita. I'm not sure if this is just for Lent or what... but the pita has way more flavor and I'm sure more good carbs than those regular, flavor-free wafers. The church I grew up in always used Matza bread, which was good... but really, I think this whole wheat pita thing is by far the best communion bread option I've had to date.

Busy day! We went to breakfast and then to the store this morning, came home briefly then went to church. Then the plan was for Ben to nap but he never really did that, so we headed out to get coffee and then to the WBP. (see subject).

Holy cow.

Tom called it a playground on steroids. And it truly was a thing to behold...

I explored with Tom and Ben for awhile but then the Periwinkle family arrived and *I*got to hold Lily. Yes Internet, go ahead, it's okay to be jealous. Oh my goodness she is so teeny tiny and perfect and pink (down to her teeny tiny pink socks). Gah! My uterus practically started screaming: "Must. have. baby. NOW. NOW. NOW!" I was not even fazed by the sleep deprivation tales... oh how frighteningly real that mommy amnesia is.

There would have been pictures, but I left the memory card to my camera at home. You just CAN'T take digital pictures without the memory card. It can't be done, no matter HOW much you try to will the pictures onto the camera.

The boys played nicely (the little ones AND the big daddy-sized ones) and we had a lot of fun! We'll definitely be going back to the WBP soon! :) It's in a great spot too... close to the Periwinkle Family and very easy to get to (though a little further away) for the Baby Human family.

Husband is golfing.
Mommy working overtime.
Spring has arrived.

**Update***
Wagon put together? Check.
Table put together? Check.
Toy box put together? Check.

All put in their respective new homes? Check check check.
Vacuumed house? Check
Emptied diaper genie? Ew. Check.
Emptied teeny tiny trash cans? Gag. Check.
Made bed, did dishes, took laundry downstairs? Checkity check check, check check.
Tired? Check.



My living room looks like a warehouse right now. There are several cardboard boxes strewn all over the place and tools everywhere. Yes, it's birthday season. It's my fauilt, really... I asked for a little table and chairs for Ben, as well as a toy box and a wagon. Between his godmother and his grandparents, Ben received all of the above. And ALL OF THEM have to be put together. The table is finished... took me two hours last night. Ben seems to like it. He is coloring there right now and he has carefully placed his Elmo in the other chair. Very VERY cute.

The electric screwdriver is charging. The directions to these things say not to use one an electric screwdriver. (why?) But my hand has blisters from screwing together the table pieces last night with a regular screwdriver. So whatever. I'm going with the power tools this time. Girl power!

Trying to decide what else productive to do with my day. Any ideas? I have to make time for some dinner preparation/assembly because I bought salmon that is on the verge of not being any good. I hate when I back myself into a corner like that. Raw meat should not be allowed to dictate how I will spend my day. ;)

In other news, take a look at this playground! We are meeting the Periwinkle family there on Sunday. Does it not look like the coolest playground you have ever seen?! One of my Gymboree mommy friends warned me though that it's very easy to lose your child because there are all these little spaces for them to crawl into and duck under! I'm preparing for a toddler challenge...

(nothing that doesn't have to do with whining about my terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad, EXPENSIVE day anyway)...

Please go read the latest entry on Suburban Turmoil. It even got ME laughing today. And that's saying a lot.

**update again*** The car guy came at a very reasonable 2p.m. They are making us fix this stupid dent under the driver's side door that rusted. Any guesses on how much THAT will cost us? Anyone? Anyone?

$688.

Can I just go back to bed and start today over?



**made it home from the vet with time to spare blog. The vet thinks it's cystitis, which is apparently as common in male cats as it is in brides on their honeymoon. (can I just give him Cranberry Juice to drink, I wonder?) But they took "samples" and are sending them off to be tested. The bloodwork I agreed to ended up costing me $200. So nice of them not to tell me that before I agreed to this optional test. Milo is sufficiently traumatized and tore out of the carrier like a bullet. I was forward-thinking enough to close my bedroom door first. **



Where to start. Today was already going to be a little more complicated than usual because there is a guy coming to inspect the Jetta. (it's part of the resale process when your lease is up and you decide not to keep the car). Of course, he keeps a cableguy schedule and gave us a FIVE hour window. Very helpful. Very accomodating. Thanks so much.

Ben has Gymboree today and the #1 rule of Gymboree is WE DON'T MISS GYMBOREE. Mommy needs it. Ben needs it. And the nap that follows it is more than worth the price of admission.

Gymboree is from 11-12. Car guy wants to come between 12 and 5.

Tom is coming home from work for lunch just in case hell freezes over and the car guy ACTUALLY comes right at noon. Then, his brother is coming to pick him up and take him BACK to work and Ben and I will go pick him UP from work around 6 this evening.

Okay, so as if that's not complicated enough....

I was putting in a cat door in the laundry room yesterday (yes, I had to throw that in there, I'm VERY proud of the fact that I used a jigsaw, for the first time, all by myself). I happened to notice while I was down there that there was blood on one of the litterboxes.

Now, one of our cats, as I have mentioned before, has always been a vindictive pee'er, so please understand why it hasn't phased me for the last three weeks that we've noticed cat pee spots just OUTSIDE both litterboxes. (and ocassionally in the basement bathtub). Of course, now that there is blood... I'm more than a little concerned, and it fits everything I've Googled about cat urinary tract infections/kidney issues. Though I'm still not 100% sure which cat it's coming from, I have my suspicions... because my vindictive pee'er cat has been seen exiting the basement bathroom a lot recently and now that I think about it, has been VERY demanding about us running water in the sink for him for a LONG time. I'm sure you are you bored out of your skull by my cat issues, aren't you?

I called the vet last night and have to take him in at 9:45 this morning. Yes, I'm worried enough about my cat to be blogging about it. Don't tell Anakin, but Milo is my favorite cat by a longshot. He's the sweetest cat in the world (except when he pees on the bed, which, knock on wood, he hasn't done in two years). Nevertheless, I heard myself on the phone with vet receptionist saying, "Do you think the appointment will take long? Because I have to be somewhere at 11." Gah. Yeah, I feel bad about that. But I mean, if they are going to take forever to run a bunch of tests and yada yada, I'd rather not stand around with Ben. I'll just feel sad for Milo anyway... I'd rather not watch them do all that. So if it's going to take awhile, I'm going to leave him and come back later. (If you are feeling sorry for him right about now, don't worry... I'll be punished... he'll come right home and pee on my pillow. I just know it. )

He might be stuck there until after 5, depending on the car situation. If the vet closes, he'll be stuck there until tomorrow.

Stupid Volkswagen Jetta. I told you it was nothing but trouble. See? Even on its way out it's complicating my life.

Have you all seen this yet?!


New animal resembles furry lobster

PARIS, France (AP) -- Divers have discovered a new crustacean in the South Pacific that resembles a lobster and is covered with what looks like silky, blond fur, French researchers said Tuesday.

Scientists said the animal, which they named Kiwa hirsuta, was so distinct from other species that they created a new family and genus for it.

A team of American-led divers found the animal in waters 2,300 meters (7,540 feet) deep at a site 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) south of Easter Island last year, according to Michel Segonzac of the French Institute for Sea Exploration.

The new crustacean is described in the journal of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

The animal is white and 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) long -- about the size of a salad plate.

In what Segonzac described as a "surprising characteristic," the animal's pincers are covered with sinuous, hair-like strands.

It's also blind. The researchers found it had only "the vestige of a membrane" in place of eyes, Segonzac said...

I will often randomly throw out ideas to Tom for future children's names... I have definite favorites in place for the next boy and/or our first girl. But it's fun to think about different ones... a few nights ago, a name popped into my head that I liked:

Me: "What about Josie? How do you feel about the name Josie?"

Tom: You mean like "Josie and the Pussycats?"

Thanks. Killed that one for me. He does that a lot.

I was just looking at toddler beds on JCPenney.com (the original place I ordered Ben's bed from keeps pushing back the ship date, which is getting annoying) Anyway, I had to register on the site and like I always do, I UNchecked the "Yes! Please send me lots of really annoying emails!" box.

30 seconds later, I got this email.

"While registering as a shopper with jcpenney.com, you chose not to receive our promotional Email. This is being sent to confirm that [this email address] will not receive Email from jcpenney.com...."

So they sent me an email to tell me that they wouldn't be sending me any email. Lovely.

Oh, and it went on to explain that they'd like me to participate in a survey about why I didn't want to receive their email.

(shakes head)

If I bought six deliciously wonderful Cadbury Cream Eggs with The Creamy Centers that Have Fake Yellow Egg Yolk yesterday, and my husband ate one, and there is now one left... how many did *I* eat?

(hangs head in shame)

But they were SO so so good.

And actually, I shared a half of one with Ben.

Did anyone else notice that the link to Claire's Blog on my blogroll was actually a link to a recipe for tiramisu? Weird. It's fixed now. ;)

I was browsing the toddler clothes at Target this afternoon and came across these tees that I HAD to get for Ben. They were only $5.99!




I also picked up some Cadbury Cream Eggs. YUM. I was fixated on them ALL day thanks to Zoot I told you I had a weakness for chocolate. Especially chocolate with an ooey, gooey creamy center with fake yellow to make it look like egg yolk.

That turned out surprisingly well for all involved! Since I had Ben to distract me, my blood pressure was down... LOW in fact. 110 over 70'something. This is the first time EVER that I have been able to prove to any doctor that I do NOT have high blood pressure. It's a personal triumph.

Ben got to be at a doctor's office without being the one being doctored... which, after just a minute of uneasiness, really made him laugh. The physicians assistant listened to my heart and said, "Ba boom ba boom ba boom!" which Ben thought was hysterically funny. Then she let him touch the stethescope which he just thought was the coolest. I think he MIGHT even let his pediatrician listen to his heart without crying next time! He pointed to his ear and asked to see her "nigh!" (otoscope/ear light) but she didn't have one. The doctor did though and he was overjoyed when she brought it out to look in his mommy's ears, nose and throat.

As for me, despite a dubious family history, turns out my bad cholesterol is all low low low... my good cholesterol is actually HIGH. So high that she asked me what I eat/how I exercise in order to get it that high. Well, as I told her, the eating part I can take credit for. Other than a weakness for chocolate, I eat really well... lots of whole grains, skim milk, soy, veggies, I drink pretty much just water, and I don't eat red meat and I VERY rarely eat anything like chips or fatty junk..... (my other weakness that I try to keep under control is french fries)

But the exercise? Um... yeah, I SO don't do that. It's boooooooooring. I DO chase Ben around a lot, which HAS to count for something. And I probably run up and down the stairs about 100 times a day. So I guess I'm getting it without realizing it.

So yay for me being a healthy mommy. (despite me Google-diagnosing myself with a different disease every week)

Ben was so good at the visit, that now I look forward to taking him to the OB with me someday when I get pregnant again. I think by that time, he'll probably be old enough to think hearing the baby's heartbeat is pretty neato and I'm pretty sure I can trust him to sit and play while I get the requisite tummy measuring/blood pressure stuff done.

I have a doctor's appointment this morning (Just followup on my bloodwork from my physical... again, memo to all -- NOT PREGNANT, thanks so much for asking.)

My mom was going to watch Ben for me but she has a cold and since we have had such BAD luck with ear infections lately, I've decided against taking him over there. Instead, I am going to take Ben with me.

To the doctor.

With me.

Alone.

I'm not so much worried about entertaining him (though if I get the same hour and a half wait I had there last time, we could run into problems). I'm more worried about his fear of doctors and doctors' offices. I could have a screaming Ben on my hands... may or may not work out. We'll see.

I'm taking a whole bag of M&M's.

I've had to do a lot of gross things since having a child. I've been peed on, pooped on spit up on, and of course there was that whole messy "childbirth" thing and all the nastiness that came with that.

But...

Up until tonight...

I have NEVER had to scoop poop out of the bathtub.

(gag)
(gag)
(gag)

Call it luck. Call it impecable timing. Call it the good fortune of having a child with clockwork bowels.... whatever. It all ended tonight.

There was just something about fishing for evasive little lumps of poo with a plastic cup that just about did me in. I feel like bathing in bleach now.

Of course, I say all this, but I haven't had to clean up puke yet... I'm really REALLY dreading the puke initiation when that happens.

Sadly, I have not gotten to go visit Jen and Lily yet. :( I didn't try to call because I I figured she was resting and then when she called yesterday, (Jen, not Lily... Lily can't really use her opposable thumbs that well yet) I wasn't home. So I probably won't get to see them until they get home and settled, which is probably best anyway. :)

So today... today is nuts. We have two birthday parties to go to!

The first one is for Ben's friend Conner, who is turning 2! And the second one is for Ben's friend Luke who is turning 1!
I'm thinking there is going to be a lot of cake consumed today. I took Ben out yesterday to pick out their presents... okay, so he wasn't so helpful and ended up picking HIMSELF out a Jojo's Circus coloring book and a Playhouse Disney cd.

Should I do another blog contest this year for Ben's birthday? I was thinking the prize could be an awesome toddler mix cd! ;)

Jen had Lily at 9:35 last night, according to her mom. :) Congrats guys! I can't wait to see her!

I had to share... these are great. :)

https://www.dovenight.com

Jen is off to the hospital! We finally get to meet Sweet Pea! I'm so excited! Hopefully I'll get to see SP in person sometime tomorrow as long as everything goes smoothly today! Good luck guys! :)

This is totally unrelated to The Baby Human, but it's a personal triumph that I wanted to share...

Most of you know that up until I had Ben, I worked at an advertising agency as a writer/proofreader/resident "Help us! The printer is jammed!" person. I spent a lot of time bored out of my skull both because of the crap I had to write about and because of a frequent lack of anything substantial to DO for 8 hours a day. So I used to create projects for myself. I did two BIG personal projects while I was there.

One was organizing all of their radio spots and tv spots... seeing as this had NEVER been done in the bajillion years the agency existed, it was a monumental task. Then, after they were all cataloged, I set about digitizing as much as I could. I created an internal website where they were organized by client and year and could be downloaded easily along with their scripts. And lo, it was good, though somewhat underappreciated at the time.

My #2 Boss (and most other people) was always on my back for working on it instead of oh... I don't know... twiddling my thumbs at my desk or my other favorite activity, carrying piles of paper around the office and walking quickly so I looked busy.

Then I quit when I had Ben and it was approximately three weeks before the first phone call came in... "Umm... we have a pile of radio spots on cd here and we have no idea what to do with them!" and "We need to burn a cd of x-spot and y-spot and we don't know how!"

So ocassionally I help them out. (not often though because I have better things to do... like color and watch the DoodleBops.)

My other big project that they thought was a waste of time was a company intranet. Granted, it was simple and no-frills. BUT, it had a link to all those radio spots, links to important administrative stuff and, if boss #2 would have ever cooperated with me, a very useful vacation calendar and an agency calendar.

I got a call from Boss #1 two days ago. So I went in yesterday and guess what he was freaking out about?! "The inTRAnet (that's how he pronounces it) doesn't work!" Sure enough, the files are all misplaced and none of the links work now.

He wants the whole thing revamped and wants it to be accessible outside of the agency with a password... he wants it to be HUGE, with presentations, ads, agency agreements... the whole nine yards on it. He wants me to teach them all how to use it and wants them ALL to use it on a regular basis or ELSE... he wants a calendar they can all update (already done)... I committed to doing some things I'm actually not sure how to do yet. But I'll figure it out. (I hope)

And he wants me to do it all... for a nice, fat hourly rate. From home. (well, mostly. I will have to go in there a few times to get files and stuff)

I'm so excited, I could pop! I have free reign over every aspect of it! He even suggested a "fun" section where employees could chat... he wants a chat room and a message board! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I probably put a blog up there while I'm at it. ;)

Anyway, it's nice to be validated. Even if it's two years later. Truly. Very VERY nice. Now I just have to figure out how to ummm...crack the latest version of Dreamweaver so I can actually do the job. Small detail. Really. Hrm...

I am blogging this from my old boss's office. We are sitting here talking about work for me to do. Totally wierd, this is...

Oh MY goodness... I woke up this morning to find out that Jen is STILL pregnant. When I went to bed last night, I thought for sure I'd wake up to a post that said at LEAST, "We're off to the hospital!" But ummm, no. Poor thing. :( And the thing I keep thinking about is that her first baby was eight pounds and he was two weeks EARLY. Ouch.