Diggin' for dinos

Oh my gosh. Exhaustion.

I got back my trip to Mom's okay. Well, I mean, if you don't count my loss of sanity while there. It was a decent trip, but I spent most of the time flat out frustrated and exhausted. I got there late Wednesday afternoon after a chaotic trip with a cranky toddler who decided listening to the radio is evil. I mean, he didn't even want to listen to the Sirius kid's channel. Whatever -- I didn't either. But I could have at least used some good 80's music. Oh well. So I got there Wednesday afternoon and it was Friday before my Mom decided it was okay to "do something" with me and Adrien. What was supposed to be a Friday morning excursion turned into us leaving around noon and driving over an hour to the nearest biggish city (a suburb of Houston).

We took Adrien to a satellite location of the Houston Museum of Natural Science which, oddly enough, is located in a shopping mall. My Mom got a little frustrated because Adrien didn't want to stay still for a second and half to stand by the triceratops skeleton for a picture. I mean, he's two! What two year old wants to stand and pose for Grandma when there are things to explore? I think she was dually frustrated with me for not forcing him to stay put for a picture. To me it just wasn't worth the fit it would induce.

[On a side note, he was on quite the roll that day. I think he managed to get the entire restaurant to pay attention to him when we went to eat lunch. On the way to the museum he'd fallen asleep in the car. We'd planned to eat lunch before our museum trip, and shortly before we got to the restaurant he woke up with a bad dream. He was just in a bad mood. He was calmed down by pushing his stuffed monkey around in his stroller on the way to the restaurant, but there was hell to pay when it came time to sit in the high chair. He just didn't want to. He wanted to push that damn monkey all over the restaurant in his little umbrella stroller.]

Anyway, after the museum -- which he LOVED -- he got to dig for dinosaurs. This place has this awesome area with rubber mulch serving for dirt, and there are actual dinosaur skeletons (yes, I realize they're just casts of actual skeletons) to dig for. Although he didn't quite grasp the concept of digging for something, he totally gets the digging part. He had so much fun. At the end there was a "prize dig" and he got to "excavate" a toy dinosaur. He held that little dino all the way home -- where he finally took another nap.

Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the trip to the museum and dino dig because Andi had my camera with him in New Orleans, however my Mom did take her camera. As soon as I can get her send me some copies, I'll post them! Although she swears she has no access to the internet. Boon. Docks.

Leaving...

Hey guys --

I'll be out of town until Saturday. I'm going to see my Mom and Grandpa in some teeny tiny little bitty town in the middle of nowhere, so don't expect a blog post. I'm not sure if their internet is working (or if they even know what a computer is), but I'll be back soon enough.

If you just HAVE to have a fix, enjoy the archives.

Jane's Observations: The inherent competition of the socialized mother

Corn Syrup = Poison

Gosh. WHAT happened to my writing skills? I think I used them all up in those two posts.

Have a great week!

I'm no marriage counselor, but...

So game night went well. I don't think it was as lively as it usually is for some reason. I think we'd all had those kinds of weeks. I know I sure had. The food went off without a hitch -- well if you don't count the failed onion ring recipe I was trying (I improved with some impromptu beer batter though!) or the fact that I didn't get food down until about an hour after everyone had gotten here. Thankfully no one minded. My time management was just not-so-much on Friday. Oh well, it was fun!

Everyone filed out and left around 11 or so that night. One of my friends stayed...until 2am. Not that I minded at all. Andi and I had a great time chatting with her. She was blowing off some steam about her husband. Her marriage is in a shaky spot. It was a bit awkward though, but not because she was sharing her trials and tribulations -- mostly because I'd never given that sort of advice before. I mean, sure. I've counseled many of my friends on their boyfriends before; but marriage advice? I don't think I've ever actually given any marriage advice. It was just strange.

This friend of mine is one part of a couple that my husband and I hang out with quite frequently. It's not to say that Andi and I couldn't smell the trouble brewing with these two long ago -- it's more like we've just been astonished that she's been putting up with it for so long. I was even starting to think that she was tolerant. And if she was -- great. It's just to say that I'd never tolerate that sort of behavior from Andi. But apparently, all the toleration has been really getting to her. And while it doesn't make me happy that they're having problems, it is almost a sigh of relief for me to know she's aware that she doesn't need to put up with the sort of behavior her husband exhibits. Andi is friends with this guy and he's even on her side of things. Of course we're trying not to take "sides" as far as they're concerned...but in private, we do of course.

These two just had a new baby at the end of December...they were only just married last September. You see where I'm going with this, right? Since the baby was born, this girl's husband has changed maybe three diapers...and I think I'm being generous there. He refuses to. On top of it, he's tried to brag about that to me and Andi. We tell him he's a jackass.

Friday night, my friend explained to me through sobs that the other night he'd picked up their baby girl from day care. For whatever reason, my friend didn't arrive home until 11 or so at night, and when she arrived home to the apartment, she found her baby still in her car seat. He had neglected to change her diaper, change her clothes, feed her a bedtime bottle or even just remove her from her car seat. He saw no problem with this. He'd been home with the baby quite a few hours. This sort of thing happens constantly.

He also told her that he'd never apologize to her before they were married.

One night he went out at 11:30pm to get a tattoo of all things, not returning home until 1:30 in the morning.

She said the other day she asked him if he thought she was disgusting and he couldn't even look at her. He ignored the question.

As best I could, I tried to boil a lot of his behavior down to the fact that it's normal in the first year of marriage. But it's not. I wasn't trying to side with him or sugarcoat anything, but my friend is getting down to her last straw. She's contemplated leaving already. I just didn't know the right thing to say. I didn't want to say the wrong thing. Had I said how I really felt about the situation, I might have added fuel to the fire, and that's not what I want to do. I don't want to encourage the break up of a marriage...but as a friend, I can't stand to see her being treated this way.

It's just such a heavy situation. My parents divorced when I was two, got back together and finally split up again when I was 7 or so. I didn't grow up with the best vision of marriage to look at. I just don't feel so sure giving marriage advice. It's such a major topic, and I -- by far -- am no expert.

Andi and I saw this couple again on Saturday. Despite the fact that my friend told me they argued for a good two hours after she'd finally arrived home Friday night, they acted like everything was A-OK.

What's a friend to do? I want to tell her the full extent about how I feel about her husband and the way he treats her. But I don't want to be responsible in aiding the failure of their marriage.

It's game night! Yeehaw!!!

It's game night tonight! Yay! And just in case you were wondering, which I know you were, I finally decided on a theme. Good thing, right? I mean, it is tonight and all. Anyway, I kinda decided to do a southern tea party. Sweet tea, peach tea, lemonade, mini barbecue sandwiches, home made onion rings, baked beans and of course pineapple upside down cake. I can't wait for that stinkin' cake! I baked it last night. Mmmmm. I'll also have some baby carrots, cucumbers and french bread with some dill dip. Can't wait.

I've been cleaning feverishly all day. Well maybe not feverishly, I am trying to pace myself. But I've been cleaning. I really should do this more than once a month (the cleaning). Then maybe it wouldn't take a whole day. Eh. Why?

The results of my glucose test came out great! I sort of knew they would, I just always worry a little because diabetes runs in my family. But I'm all clear.

Well the dishwasher just cut off. That means I can go back to watching Benny & Joon while Adrien finishes his nap.

Maybe I should sweep the entryway first. Hm.

I'll be fat but happy

I haven't posted in forever. Over a week. So far this week I've just flat out been too busy. I've had a lot of stuff in my head, just no way to get it out. I think I'm creatively drained or something like that.

Today I feel like I could just cry all day long. Adrien's been in the pissiest moods the last few weeks. I guess he's just that age or something. But he doesn't really want to eat much (I mean, he still eats, but I'm used him like really EATING). On top of it everything -- and I do mean everything -- leads to gigantic fits. This morning I ate one of his apple wedges (which he was not eating) and he threw a 6 minutes long fit about it. He kept screaming My apple, My apple. And he had real tears.

When he acts like this I just want to scream at him. I just do not see any reason for his behavior. He can be the sweetest most easy going kid. But something has happened and he's turning into a terrible little toddler lately.

I went to the doctor yesterday for my stupid little glucose test. Guess what? I've gained ANOTHER million and a half pounds! The doctor said it was probably a lot of water weight and fluid, but still. I've literally gained 16 pounds in the last month alone. I mean, my pants and whatnot still all fit in the ass area. So I don't feel like I'm gaining a lot of weight. When my doctor asked if I had any concerns, it was just my weight gain. The five pounds I've put on in the last two weeks alone. He asked if I'd been eating any more than usual. Me? Eat more? Psssht. No.

Now excuse me while I go make myself a pizza for lunch. The whole thing.

Me? Eat more? Never!

Wordless Wednesday: Darth Potty

Darth Potty



Crafts I made at my women's retreat last weekend (yay!):





My husband "worked from home" today (yay! too):

Filled to the Measure

Oh my goodness. I'm so incredibly, incredibly exhausted from this weekend. But also refreshed in that spiritual sense. I had such an amazing time and felt so entrenched in my own spirituality for the first time in so long. I've been making a concerted effort lately to get myself in order so that I may start to walk the path that God is laying out for me. I really had some time to reflect and give thanks for that path this weekend. I almost feel like I need more time. I always feel like I need more after these retreats are over. You just get that hunger, ya know? It's like when you don't feel hungry until you start to eat.

I was surrounded by so many wonderful women this weekend. The woman who led us this weekend was so amazing. She just has that spark. That intangible goodness that comes when you're living God's love.

I had so many great experiences this weekend, and so many thoughts I'd like to explore; paths that have been set out and epiphanies about to burst forth. I really need to make notes on all this. You know, before life gets in the way as it often does.

This weekend was such a gift. And it's not one I'd like to have received only to put it away somewhere out of sight. I want to keep my gift with me, and bring it up to its full potential. I want to take my gift, cut it out in tiny pieces and spread it around so that everyone who meets me takes a part.

I've been hearing The Call for quite a while now. I need to follow it.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19

Feelin fat

I went to the OB yesterday. Astonishingly enough, I'd managed to gain 754930264.6 pounds since my last visit. Okay, maybe not 754930264.6 pounds. But enough. Enough to make me slightly saddened about it. So what'd I do yesterday? After I got home, I ate some cookies and creme ice cream. That sounded like a good solution. Made me feel slightly better.

So the doctor apparently just now noticed that I'm "measuring big". I mean, everyone with eyeballs has noticed now humungo my stomach is. So he did an ultrasound. Very exciting. I apparently have an excess of amniotic fluid. He says "It's more than we like to see, but still within the normal range." Whatever that means. I couldn't pry any info about it out of him since I'm still "normal," so I did what every curious person does, and I Googled it. Wow. Shouldn't have done that. But I'm still normal, so that's good. The up side is that I got a 3D pic of the baby yesterday! Yay! As soon as my husband gets it scanned in for me at work, I'll post a picture. I have to say though, I think he looks just like his brother. I mean, not that I thought he wouldn't.

My church's women's retreat is this weekend. I'm on the planning committee. Yay for me. I'm so involved and all. No, really I am. Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow around 10amish to go drive two hours to wooded peace and quiet. Everyone else will be enjoying bottles and bottles of wine and other various adult beverages, while I'm over to the side sipping some soda and gaining another million and a half pounds munching on snacks. Anyway, it should be tons of fun. There'll be crafts and fellowship and nap time and nature and watching other people get drunk. I mean, we are Presbyterian after all. Somebody better bring Oreos.

Andi's going to see the Nascar race that's in town on Sunday. He's going to drop Adrien off at his parent's house so that they can watch him while he's off having a redneck of a good time. Seriously though, we're not rednecks. We just like fast cars. So everybody wins and we're both getting a break. Adrien will get to hang out with his most favoritest person -- his Pawpaw.

I probably won't get to blog again until Monday. Or possibly Sunday night. I'm sure everyone will miss me oh so much.

What comes after three? Oh ya, Five.

After a few months of working on counting with Adrien, it's apparent to me that he takes after my math abilities -- not his father's.

This is how Adrien counts:

Fi, free, Fi, free, fi, free...

Translation: Five, three, five, three, five, three...

Let's hope he gets my communication skills.