GISELLE'S BLOG HAS MOVED!

Try this instead...

Moments of Sanity -Take 2

Checkout my new blog

http://giselles2.blogspot.com

Ugh...

...to the stomach flu. I guess that's what's I've got. An early Christmas present from my mother. I felt normal last night...Lily was having a tough night, and didn't fall soundly asleep until 1 am. Still felt fine. I woke up at 3 feeling AWFUL...and promptly began losing fluids from both ends. Lovely. Jeff came to check on me before he left for work at 6:30...I felt really good...laying down, anyway. I heard Andrew playing football in his room "Go linebacker...TOUCHDOWN", so I knew I needed to get into the shower. Fast forward 2 minutes to blacking out in the shower. Yikes...I didn't want to carry Lily around if I was going to black out. So I tried to eat something...and again it came out both ends. So I called my angel husband...who wasn't even at work yet. He did a U-turn and came back to care for the kids. He's just left so he can at least work a half day (don't worry...no more blackouts).

The best news is...I have visions of Andrew starting to exhibit symptoms on the plane in 2 days. So all I can say is...ugh.

BTW...Congrats to our friends Bill and Annie...their daughter was born yesterday morning...Reina Maria, 6lbs,6oz, 19 inches long.

Sleep, glorious sleep!

I am proud to announce that in the last 8 nights, Lily has slept 6 or more hours during 6 of those nights! Okay, maybe not slept. But she didn't eat for that long. Yippee! You know what this means...I better order some birth control so we don't have another little screamer in 9 months. Especially now that I'm sleeping more and have more energy!

(oh, was that too much information for my family members? you don't want me to talk about my sex life on here? it makes your eyes bleed? i'll try to refrain, but how did you think Lily and Andrew got here in the first place?).

Life changes

Having Andrea here made me realize just how quickly life changes. She is a college senior...well, her first senior year anyway. It honestly doesn't seem that long ago that I was there...and I guess it has only been 8 years. But yikes!

Andrea is a GREAT aunt. She is eternally patient with her nephew, who alternates between giving her evil looks out of the corner of his eye and making her play endless rounds of football. Her niece is a bonafide momma's girl ALREADY, so any "quality" time with her involves walking around with a screaming baby. And all Andrea's skills come so naturally...I know she doesn't have much experience with little kids or babies.

I could tell after a few days that Andrea had had enough of our little funhouse. Really, I think it is quite shocking. Last week, she was studying for finals, kissing her boyfriend, watching movies, talking about interesting scientific discoveries or hypothetical ethical questions. She maybe went out for a quick bite to eat or popped into the car to run quick errands at fun places like bookstores or music and movie stores. Then she came to my house. We take HOURS to just shower and get ready in the morning. Loading into the car involves one SCREAMING infant, dragging a reluctant pre-schooler into his car seat, watching Toy Story and Cars...just one more time. And that is just when we get out of the house...which only happened once or twice while she was here. I tried to think of interesting things to do...really I did! We went to a puppet show...which sucked beyond sucking because it turned out to be a final project for a local adult ed college. We went to see the incredible lights display near our house, but Lily screamed her head off almost the entire time...very relaxing. We did have a good time at the Please Touch museum...Andrea seemed very excited about the pretend grocery store and rolling balls display.

Most days we were just at home, though. Not too exciting. And it made me remember being Andrea's age. Of course, when I was Andrea's age, I was married, teaching 5th graders, living in California, trying not to kill myself. But when I was a senior in college I mean. Good Lord...looking at a family with kids seemed so far away. I try to see my life through Andrea's eyes. No freedom. No traveling. Cleaning up poop all day long. Staring blankly at my husband through sleepy eyes with nothing to talk about but poop. Who am I kidding, Andrew doesn't even let us get a word in edgewise about that.

Now, just 8 years later, I am where I want to be. Some days I think I must be crazy to want this life...but amazingly it is just the right fit (maybe minus all the moving). I want to be getting cheezy thumbs up from my very own little dork. I want the sticky kisses and the soft "You're the one I love" whispered in my ear at night. I want to play tea party with dinosaurs and to drop my fork on the floor for the 30th time (just to hear the giggles) and to hide a candy cane on the tree so a little person can search for it, only to throw a tantrum in frustration 30 seconds after not being able to find it. I want to rock a baby for hours, just to keep her from crying. To gaze into a tiny face and talk like a moron, if only to hear that sweet little coo or see that squinty smile that lights up her face. I want to look up from these two little creatures and groan and roll my eyes and laugh and laugh and laugh with that one other person who understands what it means to love them so much it hurts. To cherish every minute alone with my husband, because those moments are so rare it makes them precious. I want that special gift of seeing the world new through little ones eyes...even if it means I haven't seen a movie in 2 years, or have anything interesting to say at dinner parties, or never really get invited to dinner parties anyway. I know deep down I have plenty of time left to do those things...these are just a few years out of a hopefully long life.

I'm glad I am where I am. But I'm also glad I didn't get here too early. If she wants to, Andrea will get here soon enough...and hopefully by then, I'll be the one going on a cruise and she'll be cleaning up poop at home ;) (for the record, I'm not at all jealous, Andrea)

Bud Light Year

You'll notice my posting falling off a bit this week. It's because we have visitors, so I actually have people to tell my stories to, and don't need a blog to have a conversation. ;)

Mom, Dad, and Andrea drove in on Friday. Andrew is having a BLAST. Pepere is tired. Memere is barfy (why does she always get the stomach flu when she's away from home? Or is it just when she visits me? It is? Ugh.) Andrea is tired (she stays up like she's in college, but since she is sleeping in the toy room, she gets a 7 am wake up call...or a wake up tickle).

Anyway, we're having fun. But I have to poke a little fun at my college age sister. She is a senior in college. You just have to know that to laugh at my story.

So she's playing with Andrew for a little while. He's making her play Toy Story. Do you know that one? It was the original Pixar film. A little boy named Andy has an old loved cowboy doll named Woody and a new space hero named Buzz Lightyear. Well, Andrea doesn't have kids. She doesn't have to watch cartoons all day long. So to adapt to playing with her nephew, she's inadvertantly changed the game to something she's more familiar with. Andrea comes in to tell me about playing with Andrew. "We were playing pretend. Andrew was Woody and I had to be Bud Lightyear".

Yes...Toy Story 3. Little Andy grows up and brings Woody to college. But instead of bringing along his old pal Buzz, he gets a new, more grown-up action figure...BUD LIGHT YEAR! Instead of fighting space aliens, he battles awkward social situations by relaxing you and making you funny.

Ahhhh, thanks for the laugh Andrea!

my xmas wish

Generic Human

There are generic brands of just about everything in the world. Did you ever know that there are generic people too? Yup...that's me!

This post is in response to those of you who believe that Lily looks like me. It's not just those of you posting comments. Some people out in the real world have made this comment to me as well.

She does not look like me. Sorry, but she has everything from Jeff's color and shape eyes to her grandmother's freaky toes (sorry, Linda). She is a Spurgeon up and down. A few days after her birth, my MIL even brought me a newborn picture of Lily's Aunt Sara to squelch any hopes I may have had that my child looks like my side of the family. Sara and Lily could have been twins at birth. Seriously. Except for the slightly hairy shoulders, this child merely used my womb and made me puke a lot...none of my genes were used.

That being said...you are not entirely mistaken, people-who-think-I-spawned-a-child-like-me. On our first date, the city bus driver did ask Jeff and I if we were brother and sister (let's all say it together, shall we? EWWWWWWW!). And, no, Jeff and I are not related, we merely have that corn-fed Midwestern look in common.

Oh, and I do look a bit like everyone. I have been blessed with very generic features...hence the title of this post. I am not putting myself down. It is the truth. I have no distinguishing features. If I were to rob a bank, and the teller was asked to describe me, what exactly would they say?

"Uh, she was average height...well, maybe kind of tall, but not memorably so. She had mousy brown hair...not light, not dark, not memorable. Her eyes were...gee, I don't know what color her eyes were. Brownish? Greenish? Her nose was not too small, not too big, no bumps or anything memorable. She wasn't skinny, but not exactly obese. No glasses, no birthmarks, no hump, limp, or stutter." You get the drift? This means a few things:

a) I look a little bit like everybody. Just live in my shoes for a week and you will hear at least 3 times, "Oh my gosh, you look just like my cousin/sister/best friend/ex-boyfriend's little sister/neighbor". I look a little like everyone.

b) I should TOTALLY be an undercover cop. Or bank robber. Or CIA agent. I would just blend into the background. I wouldn't even have to wear a mask or a disguise. I would just blend into the fabric of humankind.

So there you have it. Lily doesn't look like me. Well, no more than any of you reading this looks like me. :) But have no fear...I will make my mark on the child yet. She will spend a lot of time with me for the first quarter of her life. I've already corrupted Andrew...he's way weirder than anyone in Jeff's family. What other child do you know asks if his milk is "strawberried up". Or asks what color his poop is. Or plays pretend for hours with containers of glue...not gluing things, but making them talk to each other, play football, go to school, etc. Or sings to the tv, "This is the way the Buckeyes win, Buckeyes win, Buckeyes win" (to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush). Oh wait, that last one is his grandmother's fault, not mine.

Learning the dialect...

I am slowly learning how to "talk Philly". I was just starting to fit a few "Y'alls" into my vernacular, and now I have to start all over learning how to fit in verbally.

Here's my first Philly sentence: "I'd like wudder with my steak".

That can be interpreted as: "I'd like water with my Philly cheesesteak".

Yup...wudder. Wudderfalls, icewudder, sparkling wudder. I'm sorry, but that sounds dumber to me than any southern twang ever did.

Oh, and once again it is "soda" not "pop". We had a debate on my dorm floor freshman year about whether carbonated beverages were soda or pop. Now that I have lived on the west coast, the "south" (kind of), and the east coast, I have to admit that it is soda. Sorry Mid-westerners...but we're outnumbered. Not that it means I'm changing. I've already got a little 3 year old who calls it "pop". We may not live in Ohio, but gosh darn it, we're going to cling to the few distinctive phrases we've got! But I'll now admit that it is not the "normal" word. At least it's better than those freaks down south that call everything "Coke". Because that makes sense (no offense to the few rogue southerners that read this...but seriously? That's like calling all types of cereal Cheerios. "Yes, I'll have cornflakes Cheerios please". )

More pictures

A few shots of our family together. And one of our "New blue house" as Andrew calls it, for those of you who haven't seen it. I do love this house...I feel like we just fit in it perfectly...except for my master bedroom furniture. :)

Andrew update...

Obviously Andrew hasn't been driving me as crazy the last week or so. He seems to be adjusting to the boring life at home with Mommy and Lily. I have also noticed that we both do better when we get out of the house at least once during the day. So I'm back to planning errands, etc so that they space out through the week. Even if it's just a short trip to Target, we seem to do better.

Here are some cute Andrew stories:

Andrew was throwing a crying fit about something. Lily started to scream. So I pretended to cry as well, proclaiming, "Everybody cry!". Despite his best efforts, Andrew started to laugh and wipe away his tears. So I stopped crying. Lily kept right on screaming (she's not aware of the game). I asked Andrew why Lily was crying. He poked my boob, rolled his eyes, and walked away. Cracked me up.

Lily was screaming in the car...she hates her carseat under most circumstances. Andrew tolerates this very well, but one time he called out "Do something with that baby!"

Andrew is very complimentary. He almost always thanks me unprompted if we go somewhere, etc. Some of his funnier thank yous include "This is the best meal I never had" and "Thank you for showing me that, Mom" (we passed some Christmas lights) and "This is the best time I never had". I love that "Never had" thing...cracks me up.

We had a little boy over to play today. For the first time in I don't know how long Andrew didn't tell me "I miss Te-tucky". He instead closed the door on Matthew and said, "Mommy, I made a new friend". When I waved at Matthew, Andrew scolded me, saying, "That's my new friend Mommy, not yours". Excuuuuuse me.

Jeff put in a light fixture on Andrew's ceiling fan. The switch is rather complicated, with a button for the light, a button to turn the fan off and on and 3 buttons to control the speed of the fan. I saw the light was on during Andrew's nap yesterday. I opened his door to find out how he got the light on. In his 3 year old honesty, he told me, "I put my Elmo chair over there, stood on it, and the top button turns on the light". Smarty pants. So I told him it is easier to fall asleep when the lights are off. He says very seriously, "Okay Mom, I will not turn it on and I will take a good nap". And he actually left the light off for the remainder of his nap.

I ask Andrew several times a day if he wants to sit on the potty. He always says no. When he turned 3, I explained that most 3 year olds go pee-pee and poopie on the potty, so Andrew needs to start trying. After that speech, Andrew now responds to my plee for potty time with a sincere, "No, Mommy, I'm not three anymore. Not today". Stinker.

Andrew watched The Little Mermaid for the first time this week. He pronounces it, "mer-MAID" instead of "MER-maid".

Isn't he cute?

I can't think of any more off the top of my head. Just be assured, for every crying throw down fit he has, he says something cute to balance it out.

6 hours!!!

Lily went 6 hours between feedings last night!!! That means 5 hours of sleep in a row for Mama. Woo-hoo Lily!

Which brings back a memory. I recollect early in Andrew's life, maybe 3 or 4 weeks along, desperately wondering when I would ever sleep again. I tried to read my parenting book through my glassy bleary eyes. I was thrilled to read that most infants start sleeping through the night at 3-4 months! Hooray.

Until you read the fine print. I believe the entry looked something like this:

Months 3-4: Your infant will most likely begin sleeping through the night***

***"sleeping through the night" consists of 6 hours between feedings.

Um, excuse me? In what universe does the night only last 6 hours? What misleading bullcrap. Those parenting books need to write more realistic milestones.

Months 3-4: Sorry, sucker, your infant won't be sleeping regularly until at least 10 months old...and that's if you're lucky. The only people who have babies that sleep through the night at this stage fall into 3 categories:
1) liars 2) old people who can't remember what their kids did at this stage...memory loss can be due to lack of sleep and 3) a few incredible lucky people who will swear their baby slept through because of some very easy to do step....like a book they read, or something they fed the baby, etc etc. Don't hate them, they are just naive. So you're out of luck new parent. Maybe if sleep was so important to you, you shouldn't have had kids in the first place.

I mean, an entry like that would be depressing, sure. But at least it's honest...you know what you're in for. No false hope, you know?

But then, I've always believed that cute kid commercials should come with disclaimers...you know, like the drug commercials do. Just imagine...you see a commercial with an adorable baby cooing up at its mother. Perhaps it giggles a bit. Just as you feel your ovaries squeeze in anticipation, a fast talking man jumps in..."Some side effects may occur...drowsiness, loss of memory, inability to go to the bathroom alone, meal times shortened or eliminated, inibility to have conversations not limited to diaper changing or spit up, impaired driving due to outraged screams, you may find human feces caked onto clothing or body parts, as well as other symptoms not listed here."

Those ovaries would just shut up and let you live your single life after that, eh?

Stalker

I'm officially changing from a pathetic friendless girl to a stalker. As in stalking other moms with kids Andrew's age.

I heard about a free class for toddlers given at the hospital every week (did I post about that last week...I think so...it was cancelled last week for Turkey Day). So we show up super early (because I have to be prepared to get lost in the labrynth that they call "streets" in this town). Andrew is super excited. And since we are the first ones there, we get to watch all the other kids come in. And they toddled in. Andrew was like Gulliver in Lilliput (which happens to be one of my favorite nicknames for Lily...hmmm). Seriously, he weighed as much as 2 of these little guys. So I spent the entire hour making sure he didn't trip and crush one of them. Which was hard, because while the 1 year olds were enthusiatically dancing and following directions, my 3 year old was alternating between doing the dance moved and throwing himself to the ground in a dramatic collapse. Terrific threes!

Point of this story is, there was ONE other 3 year old there. And so once I figured that out...I began to stalk. I'm not ashamed. I eavesdropped on a conversation she was having about not being able to potty train her son. And I jumped right in. Very classy. Not desperate at all. But I reached new levels of stalker when I asked this woman if she was interested in playdates...after meeting her just 10 minutes before. She smiled and made little noises maybe a few words, but nothing definitely affirmative. I decided that perhaps I had frightened her and backed off. She did make a point of saying nice to meet me and goodbye at the end of class, so perhaps it's not all lost. Perhaps I'll have to bring my Goliath back to class next week to scope out new victims...er...potential friends.

Happy birthday, baby boy

My boy is 3?!?!?!? Where oh where did my baby go? And how is it possible to just love someone more and more as each year passes?

(and, seriously, could he be cuter?)

Wive's tales

Did you know that if you have a lot of heartburn while pregnant, it is a sure sign that your baby will have a lot of hair?

No, you've never heard that either? Well, I hear it 2 to 3 times each outing that Lily is with me. From total strangers ooing and aaahing over my adorable baby.

Of course I love to burst their bubbles. I had virtually NO heartburn during my pregnancy with Lily, a fact I attributed to my small belly size...not the potentially bald head of the baby.

Oh, and for all those Wive's Tales lovers...Lily was supposed to be a boy according to the ring swing, Chinese Calendar, time of conception, etc. I haven't seen her penis yet...so I'm pretty sure they were wrong.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

I could give a whole listing of the things that I'm thankful for. This has been an amazing year for our family, and although I have been wallowing in self-pity a lot recently, my lot in life is much much better than 90% of the world population. Okay, probably better than 98%. I'm not real good at math...but that's an approximate number ;)

The things I'm the most thankful for? 2 healthy children. What a gift! Sleepless nights are nothing...I don't have to worry about my children's lives (except when Andrew shoves 5 grapes in his mouth at a time...or when Andrew decides to dance with Lily to the song "Shake It Baby" which he sings as "Shake THE Baby".) A husband who is also healthy and happens to love me to pieces...even when I'm a grumpy, self-pitying mess. 2 sets of parents who regularly give us the shirts off their backs to help us out. And on and on and on the list could go.

But I won't bore you with the details. I just wanted to let you know that although this blog does not reflect it...I do truely appreciate all the gifts in my life. My biggest problem is my husband is successful at his job and has gotten promoted to a place that is a mere 8 hours away from family and friends. Boo hoo me.

I also wanted to share my epiphany of last night. I think it was well known that I wanted another boy this time around. I had visions of bunk beds, boy-themed family vacations, brotherly joking/wrestling for the rest of our lives. Since I don't come from a family with mixed gender siblings, I couldn't really imagine it, so I wanted a brother for Andrew. Plus, as I have stated in earlier posts, I am not very "girly" and thought I'd be doing a disservice to a little girl by being her mother. Now, having found out in May that a little girl was emminent, I certainly got used to the idea. Even excited about it. So by the time Lily made her entrance last month, I was on board with having a girl.

But I don't think it really hit me until last night. See, I was making my family's traditional French stuffing. Don't be fooled by the name. It is not stuffing. It is not stuffed anywhere. It is actually a pork/potato/Saltine cracker/poultry seasoning dream. We don't even have mashed potatoes because it is so good (I can hear the collective gasp of my readers). Anyway, I was mixing together this delectable family tradition and Lily was swinging away in her swing in the kitchen. And suddenly it hit me. I now have someone to teach the family recipes to. Someone to call me in future Thanksgivings to ask for my recipes...which came from my mommy.

I pulled that little girl out of her swing and kissed her all over. Oh the joys of having a daughter!

***no pressure to Lily, of course. she can cook or not cook whatever she wants in future Thanksgivings. But the possibilites are there!

I may have to eat my words...

So maybe I shouldn't be so quick to judge. Maybe I should not let my emotions run away with me. Maybe I should realize that I'm overly sensitive and shouldn't read into everything I think I hear.

The MOMS club did hurt my feelings with the whole playgroup thing. Especially the part I neglected to write in here...that there is a spot in the 3 year old group...but they have too many boys and they want to save that spot for a girl. Nice.

But I wrote a letter of apology to the Membership VP. Because my attitude sucked and I feel I'm a better person than that. She wrote back that she hadn't heard my little comment (thank heavens), but would I like to come to a class that the hospital runs every Wednesday morning? This woman came to my house this morning so that I could follow her to the local hospital and gave me a whole folder of information about the Newtown MOMS club and organizations in the area.

So let me eat my words. It doesn't even matter that the hospital center was closed today (oops). It's just nice to feel that warmth of friendliness...now I just have to get over the guilt of judging all the people in the MOMS club based on a few insensitive people.

Unanswerable questions

To try and change the tone of this blog a bit (before I have to change the name to "Self-Pity Central"), I thought I'd write about my kiddos a bit.

Andrew's "Why?" trend has escalated to now include ridiculous, unanswerable questions. He is just talking to talk, and just asking questions to ask. Kind of drives me crazy, but it makes me laugh most of the time. Need an example?

A- "Can I have a cookie?"
G- "Yes, you ate a good lunch"
A- "Why did I eat a good lunch?"

And Jeff's personal favorite while watching football on Sunday with Andrew:

"What color is the white team, Dad?" (Andrew must have asked this 1,000 times)


My little Lily is turning so sweet. I love the smiles. Last night she woke me to feed her (she actually went 5 1/2 hours between feedings...which would have been swell, except I had a sinus headache that kept me up for 2 of those hours...arghhh!). Anyway, I stumbled in to feed my screaming banshee, and as I lay her on the Boppy and whipped out the milk machine, she stopped crying, looked up into my bleary eyes, and gave a jaw-cracking smile. Okay, darling, I'll wake up as much as you want if you appreciate it that much. Melt, melt, melt.

At least somebody is smiling...

Not a quick fix

So you all know I loved my MOMS club in Louisville, right? I may have complained a bit about the politics, etc of being co-president, but 99.9% of the time I loved it. It was my social life. It was Andrew's social life. It saved my life on many a day where I wanted to crawl under a rock and die (think morning sickness a little over a year ago). For some reason, I just immediately clicked with the ladies in the group and formed so many friendships.

My experience was so great, that I felt quite confident that I would join the Newtown MOMS club and make lots more friends, and Andrew would be immersed in friendships, etc etc.

So I went to my first meeting today. Lots of nice ladies. Of course, no one came up and introduced themselves to me, but after cornering them and shaking their hands, they were more than willing to tell me their names. Then they would slink back to their friends and ignore me again. This I can handle...I remember doing almost the same thing to people at our MOMS club meetings...if the new person didn't have a kid my kid's age, I let others with more in common approach the new person. Sadly, today, there was no one else with kids Andrew's age. So poor Andrew just kind of wandered around during the meeting. (which prompted him to say as we got back in the car, "I want to go back to Kentucky. I miss my friends").

The meeting started out normal enough. They all went around and introduced themselves, because there were a few perspectives and me there as newcomers. I expressed my surprise that most of the events/playdates on the calendar were at 1pm. What at nappers? Their response was that the people who plan the events have older kids who don't nap, therefore, afternoon events prevail. Hmmmmm. Then they turned to me and asked if I wanted to start a playgroup. Huh? (yea, that's where Andrew gets it from). They gently (note sarcasm) let me know that ALL the playgroups were full, but I could start a new one for possible new members. In fact, they are almost sure someone new is joining...they have a 1 year old.

I swear, I almost started crying right then and there. I can't get Andrew into a pre-school because there aren't any 2 year old programs. Now I can't even do a GD playgroup because you are capped at 4 moms??? I believe I rolled my eyes and said, "Gee, I'm so glad I joined". Oh, lovely. I'm sure they'll all line up to be my friend now. I understand playgroups getting too large. But what good does it do for me to be in a playgroup with a 14 month old??? I have a 1 month old and a 3 year old... Oh, they did ask if I would be secretary...they need a new board member. Sure, this club does nothing for me, but I'll do your paperwork for you.

Anyway...obviously this MOMS club is not going to be my answer. So I don't know where to begin. In a town where I know NOBODY, in a town where I don't know where ANYTHING is (I don't even know what towns are nearby), when it is WINTER so everybody is inside...how do I find a crowd? How do I keep my 3 year old happy when he's just figured out that playing with other kids is way more fun than playing with Mom all day? Oh yes, and how do I pretend that everything is hunky-dory so that I don't deflate my eager husband, make my in-laws panic that I'm going to kill my son, and make my own parents come move in with me to keep me company? I wish I were a better actress. ;)

So those of you SAHM's...enlighten me. How do you find friends for you and your kids? Do I just need to wait until Andrew starts pre-school next year?

Our new town...

So here we are. In Philly. Or the "greater Philadelphia area". Because we really don't live in a city. There is a big old farm just across the street from our neighborhood and I found a tick after running around in our back yard (deer are regular visitors to our back hill).

Anyhoo...it is really pretty here. And the weather has been KILLER for the last several weeks. A few rainy days, but in the 60s and lower 70s. Today is cooler. About time. Who wants to cook a turkey when it is 75 degrees out? I haven't been out exploring much (see my entry regarding crazy street geography here) but there seems to be a lot to do. And people have been really friendly so far. Now if I could just find some playgroups that aren't in the afternoon ;)

Overall I just am bad with change (what??? shocker!). I feel sad sometimes and lonely a lot of the times, but Andrew and Lily keep me pretty busy, so I don't have too much time to dwell on it. Plus, my mom was here keeping me company...although that kind of made me sad, because it just made me wish she lived closer...and now we're even farther away. :(

Jeff is LOVING his new job. He's just so happy...it's really great. His commute seems to be fine and he just loves being back in a small plant atmosphere. Not to mention being a boss. And his boss seems to be very supportive...which means Jeff should be able to do what he needs to do.

Jeff is also rather desperate for me to like it. Every time I find something that I like, Jeff repeats it over and over as if to convince me how wonderful this place is. For example:
G- We went to the library today. It was really great. They have so much more than Louisville's library system. I'm really excited.
J- See, I told you you'd like it here.
---a few hours later, Jeff is reading Andrew a library book---
J- Wow, what great books. It really is going to be great to have a library you like nearby.
---the next day as Andrew boogies to a CD we got from the library---
J- You never got music CDs in Louisville. I think these libraries are really going to be great.

And on and on and on. He is probably having shakes worrying that I will spiral into depression like I did upon moving to California. All he wants is for BOTH of us to be happy. So it's kind of cute. And a little annoying. But mostly sweet and cute.

A sampling of our family photos

Seriously...

Really, people with older children, how did you keep your kiddos alive during the "Terrific Threes?" (or whatever garbage my MIL calls them).

Okay, after I let Andrew out of his room from the incident below, we had a long talk about listening to Mommy, respecting adults, blah blah blah. We came downstairs to eat lunch. Andrew climbs up onto his chair and stands up. These are big Amish furniture dining chairs, but I still said, "Andrew, please sit down in your chair". And I turned around to start making lunch. He, of course, did not sit down. I repeat, "Andrew, remember about being a good listener. Sit down". I turn around again to continue lunch prep. CRASH! The chair completely topples over, scaring the poop out of Andrew.

Now here's where you can hand me an award for best mommy ever. I managed to love and comfort my son before rubbing it in his face that he should have listened to his mommy. Of course, you may want to take that award away knowing that I did rub it in his face. "Now see, Andrew, Mommy doesn't want you to get hurt. That's one reason you should be a good listener".

Of course, he STILL doesn't get it. For 5 minutes after the accident, he kept repeating, "Thank you for telling me to sit down, Mommy". Huh? Why are you thanking me for telling you something you didn't listen to? Don't thank me...just listen occasionally!!!!

When will this child learn cause and effect? Will he survive to that milestone? Stay tuned...

Can I survive 3???

He's not even 3 yet, and I'm wondering if he will live to see 4.

He just opened the pantry. Got out fruit snacks. I told him he would have to wait until we left in the car to have fruit snacks. He started to open them. I told him he better not eat any and to give them to me. He grabs ALL THE FRUIT SNACKS, looks right at me, and shoves them all into his mouth. He is now sitting in his room banging on the door (I had to put him somewhere that I wouldn't KILL him). I know when I go up there to talk to him he'll say "Are you mad Mommy? Why?"

ARGHHHHHHH!

Sleep, glorious sleep!

I got 4 hours of sleep...IN A ROW last night. Do you know how long it has been since I've gotten that much sleep??? I do, October 5. Not that I'm counting.

YEA LILY!!!

No pizza delivery???

We discovered two disturbing things about our new town last night.

1) We don't think there is a single pizza delivery place around. You have to call in to these Italian restaurants and go pick up your pizza. Say what???

2) Jeff and I won't be going out to eat much for a long time. Even with my mom to help, it just takes a TON of coordination to pack up, get out the door, sit still while waiting for food, etc etc. I know, I know, it will get better. But still.

This means I'm going to have to cook. Say what??? (say...frozen pizza?) I miss my Louisville Meal Service! (gourmet meals delivered right to my door at no cost to me...yea, October was a good eating month)

A sense of direction

I was born with a terrible birth defect. It wasn't discovered until I turned 16. All of a sudden, I would find myself lost with no idea which direction to turn. Cardinal directions meant nothing to me in the real world. Yes, that's right, I was born without a sense of direction.

This defect earned me my first cell phone out in California, where Jeff had visions of me pulling over to ask directions in Compton and getting my head blown off. I was ALWAYS lost in California for the first 3 years or so (this was aggravated by the fact I changed jobs so much in the first 3 years...and each job was in a very different location).

Then I moved to blessed Louisville. There are about 4 major streets, and no matter how lost you get, you bump into one of those streets and you can find your way home. Also, it has the added benefit of having a river to the north and west of it (as in , "crap, I've hit the river...better turn around),virtually no civilization to the south or west of it (as in, "crap, where did all the buildings and businesses go...better turn around). Have I mentioned to y'all how much I loved Louisville?

Now I'm in sense of direction hell. Apparently, the east coast is really old. And back in the old days, people didn't appreciate logic in setting up their towns. Streets don't run straight, and if they do, they randomly change names...with no warning to imbeciles like me.

As an example, here are ACTUAL directions given to me to get to my pediatrician's office. I AM NOT BEING FUNNY...THESE ARE THE ACTUAL DIRECTIONS! (street names have been changed so crazy people reading my blog can't find where I live...you know who I'm talking about, people.)

Take a left out of your neighborhood. When the road deadends, turn right onto Cumberland St.
At the first light, turn left onto Hulmeville Rd.
Go straight for about half a mile. At the next light, turn left onto Hulmeville Rd.
At the 3rd light, turn right onto Silver Pine Dr.
At the first light, turn left onto Silver Pine Dr. You will pass over the freeway.
At the 2nd light, turn right onto Heathcliff. The doctor's office is on the right, at the light where Heathcliff turns into Makefield Valley Rd.


Okay, did you notice how 3 times in those short directions, the streets take a 90 degree turn, but keep their name??? What the *!!&????

So now you know. If I don't update this blog for a few days, I'm probably wandering the streets of my new town, with no idea where I am.

Why?

I title this post "Why?" for 2 reasons.

Reason #1: This is now one of Andrew's favorite words, second only to his previous favorite, "Huh?" Between these two intelligent phrases, you now know about 80% of his contribution to conversations. To give you a little sample, here is a typical conversation with the boy as of late...

Andrew: Mommy, I want to go outside.
Mommy: Okay, put your shoes on and we'll go out.
A: Huh?
M: Put your shoes on first and then we'll go outside.
A: Huh?
M: Just put your shoes on.
A: Why?
M: Because you can't go outside without shoes...it's too cold.
A: Why?
M: Because it's almost winter.
A: Why?
M: It just is!
A: Huh?

This is the point where I run screaming out of the room. Andrew can no longer remember the initial request, and we have deteriorated into a meaningless conversation. Now repeat this scenario about 50 times, and you have my day. Oh, wait, imagine dealing with it when you have less that 4 hours sleep total (and that's not consecutive folks). Yea, we're one big happy family.



Reason #2 for the Why?: Why do people have more than one child? Let me rephrase...why did I have more than one child? I love Lily...so much it amazes me that I can feel this way about two little people at the same time. But after 50 repetitions of the above scenario added into the mischievous, devious, downright naughty behavior of my son, I wonder why I thought it would be a good idea to have to do this all over again in 3 years. Some of you may be aghast at my suggestion that Andrew would ever be naughty. Let me list for you some of his more charming behaviors over the last 24 hours:
--whacking furniture, floors, dogs, mommies with a measuring tape
--purposefully pouring a cup of water all over the couch when I was out of the room (and it was a sippy cup, so he really had to shake that thing to empty it)
--sitting on the potty (yea) refusing to go pee (boo) until 2 seconds later when he's standing in the tub. Yes, he holds it so he can go in the tub. Lovely.
--throwing all his stuffed animals down the steps while I filled the tub.
--repeatedly going limp and falling to the floor whenever we start trying to do something fun. This behavior makes no sense to me...it happens when I sit down to spend quality time with him. It's like he's desperate to be alone with me, but when we get to be alone, he withdraws completely.

Anyway, all this behavior (again coupled with my lack of sleep) is driving me INSANE, and making me wonder what we were thinking wanting to repeat all these stages with another child. My feelings are aggravated by my mother barely able to contain her snickering each time Andrew does something to drive us crazy. It brings her great pleasure to see us dealing with him. Hmmmm, perhaps I will be in a similar situation 30 years from now?

Lily's progress

I just have to post how big my little girl is getting!

Before we left Louisville, we had one last weight check with the pediatrician. Lily was 7lbs 13oz (12th percentile) and 20 inches (25th percentile). This was quite shocking to me, since Andrew never was below the 90th percentile and was frequently off the charts.

We had another doctor's appointment here in Philly on Thursday. Exactly 14 days since the last weight check. Lily was 9lbs 2oz (50th percentile) and 21 1/2 inches (75th percentile).

All I gotta say...Momma's making milkshakes! Grow Lily grow!

Oh, and she started smiling this week. Real eye squinting, cheek raising, look-you-in-the-eye smiling. Melt melt melt.

Oh, and I'm never having another child. I've been blessed with ANOTHER wonderful baby. Lily only cries if she's hungry or mad (about being naked, etc). She isn't sensitive or overly fussy. She's great! If I dared to roll the dice again, I'd be sure to have something not quite human.

I'm alive!!!

Hooray! We have internet. And a phone. And cable.

It's been a long week without these diversions. However, I'm sure we got a TON more packing done because we were lacking electronically. With the re-introduction of Andrew and technology, I am certain the last 10 boxes will not be unpacked until April at the earliest.

That's all we have left to unpack...about 10 boxes. Unfortunately, there is no space left for the contents of the last boxes. In Louisville we had a wall of beautiful bookshelves with cabinets underneath. We of course wasted no time filling these cabinets and shelves with lots and lots of JUNK. Now where is that junk supposed to go? I can't just throw it away. I may someday NEED that 7 year old cross-stich sampler that I haven't gotten around to finishing. I may re-read the James Patterson book that was so mindless it took me less that a day to read the first time around. So all these valuables will sit a while long in boxes in my living room until I finally get around to moving them into a cobwebb-y corner of the basement until we move again and I get to exclaim, "What the heck is this crap???"

I was really good about purging back in Louisville. I finally went through my closet. I found pairs of pants that were size 10 and a skirt that was a size 8. Uh, Giselle? Reality check. I haven't worn those sizes since college...and with the amount of pumpkin pie I've consumed in the last month, I'm not likely to fit into them any time soon. And since it has been 8 years since I fit in them, they are in less than great shape. So I gave them away. Apparently I'm of the opinion that less fortunate people are willing to wear out of style, dusty, wrinkled beyond recognition clothes. Lucky them.

I'll let you know about my reactions to Philly (yes, reality has hit me...hard), Andrew's reactions to Philly (still not going potty), Lilly's reactions to Philly (yea, right...she's got a boob, she's happy), and lots of other exciting details I know you are dying to find out about. As a preview... can you all hear my plumbing? Way over there in the Midwest? Because it is so loud, I find it hard to believe we haven't been slapped with a citation by the city. :)

An ode to my parents

Here I am! Were you all crazy with boredom without my thrilling blog to read???

So I'm at my mom's house this week. Seriously, how did Jeff and I get so lucky to have such great parents? My poor mother is housing Andrew, Lily, and me while Jeff and my dad are in Philly getting the house ready for the truck to come. Okay, so Jeff is at work and my dad is getting the house ready. Let's talk about my folks' last few days for a moment.

Dad: Lucky him. Drives 9 hours to a house that has no furniture or even lamps. Jeff makes him sleep there, despite there being no beds. Wake up in the morning. Want breakfast? Sorry, no refrigerator. Thirsty? I think the water works, but there are no cups...so lap it up like a dog from the faucet. Drive Jeff to work. Drive back to empty house. Start cleaning. Yea, fun stuff. Scrubbing walls and cabinets. Tired? Need a break? Better stretch out on the floor, 'cause there aren't any chairs.

Mom: Lucky her. Watch your lovely empty nest slowly destruct into a cluttered, crumby mess. Since your daughter is basically out of commission because there is a baby attached to her breast 20 hours a day, you are the sole entertainer for a bored 3 year old (okay, so the 20 hours may be a bit of an exaggeration. you try breastfeeding a newborn and tell me how many hours it feels like to you). Tired from chasing a 3 year old? Sorry, you are also helping the exhausted mom by rocking fussy Lily in the early hours of the evening. This is supposed to allow Giselle to sleep early on so you don't have to get up in the wee hours of the morning. Great plan, until the 3 year old sings from 3-4am...just loud enough to keep you awake. Want to take a nap the next day? Sorry, you have to prepare to leave for a trip to PA to help unpack.

Yea, my parents are truely proving their love for me. My in-laws ain't too shabby either. They are juggling work schedules to take Andrew so we can have a few days to unpack without him. Not that a 3 year old wouldn't be great help unpacking. That's all he does all day...unpack a box of toys, unpack the fridge, unpack the bookshelves.

So thanks to all the 'rents for helping us out during this time. The fact that my hair hasn't turned white or fallen out is a testiment to all your help. Do you think you could keep up this level of help until Lily turns 5?

Goodbyes

Okay, before I post, I just have to put a disclaimer about my last post. While I am excited that I am fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes, it isn't THAT much of an accomplishment. I'm talking size 14 jeans. So it's not as if I'm back in my size 6 jeans (like some of my fellow new moms in the area). We all must remember that I wasn't exactly skinny before getting knocked up. :)

Okay, on to goodbyes. This is it. My last week in Louisville. I am so numb. One of my friends pointed out that I'm so worried about Andrew's adjustment, I just haven't got the time or energy to worry about myself right now. I think that's probably accurate to a degree. Also, I'm in complete and utter denial. Truely.

I did finally send out an e-mail to my closest friends here in town to see if they'd like one last night out with the girls. So Thursday should be a real cry-fest. But I know I'd regret it if I left without saying goodbye.

I love Louisville. Growing up in Ohio, I can't believe that I love KY as much as I do. But I love it here. I love the climate, I love the city, I love the way so much is geared towards families, I love the people. The way they drive kind of bugs me. But other than that, I could seriously live here forever and never have one regret. The people in this town welcome you with open arms, and you feel like a native soon after moving here. Love it love it love it.

And so I'm sad. Leaving California was such a triumph. I was sad to leave the friends that I'd made there, but the payoff was so great, it was really an easy sacrifice. Coming to Louisville was coming home. Even though I'd never been here before.

I'm going to miss my friends. I'm going to miss the Ohio river. I'm going to miss big brick houses and seeing people I know everywhere I go. I'm sad Andrew has to leave his school that he loves so much (who would have thought!), I'm sad to lose my girls...for bunco and book club and nights out on the town. I'm sad to say farewell to caring neighbors and the midwest in general.

Most of all...I hate goodbyes. There's just no good way to do it. I don't know when I'll be back in Louisville...I have no family here and we really didn't live here that long. Jeff hates the plant so much, I can't imagine we'll ever be transferred back. -sigh-

On to Philly! I have been pumping up Andrew about making new friends and meeting new teachers and so on and so forth. During one such speech, Andrew looked right at me and said, "Are you happy, Mom?" And I explained that Mommy might cry a little this week, but I am happy. I am happy that I get to take the people I love the most with me, that my husband is smiling again, that as hard as it seems now, I know that we are strong and will do this and hopefully in 18 months, we will feel as settled there are we are here now.

Woo-hoo

Just have to post...I'm back in my jeans today! And they aren't even tight!!! A good development since I don't have many wintery maternity clothes. I packed up all my maternity this morning so it's ready for the move. Yippee!!!

My babies...

Ah, the joys of two children. I'm sure you're all curious how my Andrew is dealing with his new baby sister. So far...so good. Of course, I have yet to spend an entire day alone with the two of them, so he hasn't really had much competition to get his needs met.

When we first came home, he was really spacey...wandering around the house, randomly destroying things. Then we discovered that he was also suffering from constipation. A suppository later, and we found him to be a much more pleasant housemate. It's amazing how a good poop can make everything seem better :)

Then a few days after she was born, he came up to me and said, "I hate Lily. She doesn't pay attention to me". Ah, yes, Prince Andrew. It must be hard to meet someone who doesn't dote on your every word and gesture. I assured him that if he just gave her some time, she would adore him like the rest of the world. Sure enough, she has been awake more and more, and he LOVES her when she is awake. And she really does like to watch him already.

He refers to her as "his baby" and knows that she is "for our family to keep". He now includes her when "reading". As in, picking up a magazine, and tracing the words with his finger saying, "Mommy, this says Andrew loves Mommy, Daddy, and Lily". Sweetheart. This morning we went to a birthday party for one of the neighbors. Whenever Lily got passed to a new person, Andrew was right there, informing the woman that "That is Lily. She's my baby". Very protective and possessive of little Lily. He makes sure to introduce her to EVERYONE that he meets. That's his job.

So he's doing well. In a little over a week we will leave our house forever. That will probably shake up his little system more than Lily. But he proves to me again and again that he is resiliant and amazing...I'm sure he'll do better than me :)

The joys of having 2

I have only been the mother of 2 children for 6 days, and already the fun begins!

Lily has decided to finish her "honeymoon period" of newborn days...and was up most of the night last night. She thinks that daylight is too bright, so she sleeps all day (thank you Daddy for those squinty eyes), and just wakes long enough to have a quick snack now and then. Then around 9 pm, she gets ravenous, and eats every hour-2 hours for about 20 minutes on a side. So we are tired today.

Andrew had school today, so we had to set an alarm to get him up out of bed. He came home from school, and we were all looking forward to a nice nap to help refresh us after the long night of no sleep. Hmmmm, Andrew seems to have different plans. So while Lily is sleeping soundly, Andrew is SCREAMING up in his bedroom. Can't even just play quietly up there.

So no sleep to be had at this humble abode! Andrew and Lily have already mastered the tag team approach to driving your parents to drink!

Pictures pictures pictures

The birth story

All right, so Andrew is with Daddy at The Playground, and Lily is sleeping...like always. So I'll jot down an abbreviated version of Lily's birth.

Let's see, I think it can all be summed up with a little equation:

Giselle + excruciating pain + extreme fear + narcotics = irrational, hysterically screaming, hysterically sobbing banshee.

So things didn't go EXACTLY as I had planned. When do these things ever?

Now's the time for some of you to stop reading. Seriously...I can't believe some of the people who check into this blog. Do my dad's co-workers really want a visual of me giving birth? Please tell me no. :)


For those of you interested in more details, here's a timeline of the day:

7am- check into hospital for planned induction. I am found to be 1-2 centimeters dilated.

10am- finally get the pitocin started to induce contractions. Apparently it is not a good idea to be induced during a full moon...too many people on the floor to get proper attention.

12pm- Dr. G comes and breaks my water. I am now 2 centimeters dilated. Contractions immediately step up in intensity. And I find myself sitting in a pool of water. Ewwww.

3pm- Shift change. My old nurse leaves me by turning up the pitocin a little bit.

3:30pm- I officially want the epidural. New nurse comes in and checks me...I am only 3 centimeters. I really wanted to get to 5-6 before getting the epidural. She wants me to finish my bag of saline before getting the epidural. Things seem to be moving slowly, so we agree to give me a little narcotic to "take the edge off" and then will get epidural when my IV is finished.

4pm- I am now screaming/ panting through contractions every 2 minutes. Jeff is an angel. I really really want my epidural. I'm no hero...give me the drugs!

4:15-4:30- A scream from me brings my nurse running. She checks me, and I have dilated to an 8!!! She tells me not to push and runs out to get the doctor with the drugs.

4:30- Drug doc comes. I am trying to answer his questions with hand gestures because the contractions are so strong. Suddenly, I feel like I am pushing (I won't describe how the pain changed...a bit graphic for my silly little blog). I yell "I am pushing". Pandemonium breaks out. Jeff is shoved in a corner to make room for the nurses running in and out. Drug doc leaves without giving me the drugs...I am apparently crowning at this point and it is too late for me. I realize this and PANIC. Andrew did A LOT of damage, and now I'm facing that damage with no drugs. Couple that with narcotics that made me feel slightly drunk (no pain relief) and I was a swearing, screaming idiot. In between contractions, I sobbed and pleaded with my doctor to do something (uh...too late, crazy lady).

4:46- 3 hysterical contractions later, Lily popped out into the world. But did the hysterics end? No, I still was screaming as they tortured me. Sure, it's important to get the placenta out. Sure, I didn't want to hemmorage to death. Yes, I did want my parts stitched back together. But did they have to torture me so??? Could I get an epidural now?

All in all, it wasn't the pain that was so terrible, it was my over-riding fear of having a 4th degree without meds. I have seriously never been so scared in my life. But it was really quick, and now I can say I've experienced it. Sure, I feel like writing an apology note to my delivery staff...this is also the most embarrassed I've ever been in my life. Talk about losing control!!!

So there. I did it. Natural childbirth. And if I'm ever crazy enough to get pregnant again, I'm requesting my epidural in the 7th month.

Lily!!!

Thanks Kate, for posting a quick update on your niece.

We just got home. Lillian Jeannette (Lily) was born Friday at 4:46 pm and was 7lb 4oz, 19 inches. A teeny tiny peanut compared to Andrew. Seriously. Amazing. And her hair!!! Holy cow, I think I could almost put piggy tails in it already.

Not to be overshadowed by her gigantic brother's arrival, she decided to make her own birth story an exciting one. She already knows how much her mother likes a good story. I'll write it down in it's entirety later...let's just say...no epidural. Yea, it's a good story. I promise I'll sit down and write it in a minute.

I'm feeling great...just a 2nd degree tear and a few other stitches. I feel like I could run a marathon compared to my first birth experience. Lily also is benefitting from an experienced mother in regards to breastfeeding. I just feel so much more confidant, and she is in turn doing much much better than Andrew did at this stage. Now I just need my milk to come in, and we'll be in business.

Anyway, I've got to go wake the little sleeper so she will eat and not stay up ALL night long.

Crunchy has Arrived!

Giselle asked me to post this for her, as she is a little busy at the moment and probably will be for some time...

I will come back and update what I know. Crunchy needs to know that she is certainly #2 because I already forget the exact time she was born and how long she is, but that isn't really what you want to know. In my defense, I was so excited that all I wanted to know was how the labor went how the baby was, etc.

Lillian (Lily) Jeannette
7 pounds 4 ounces
born today sometime after 4 p.m.
Longer than 19 inches (because most babies past 5 pounds are)
Hair=darker than Andrew
Eyes=haven't seen yet (crying steadily since her birth)
Baby= BEAUTIFUL

I won't give you the gory details since I'm sure Giselle will be more colorful with her descriptions. Let's just say she went au natural.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We Love You!

Eviction notice

Dearest Daughter:

You and I have been under a strict lease agreement. The agreement states that I would provide you with housing and food if you would agree to vacate the premise at the end of 10 months time. I have taken on the additional inconvenience of almost constant nausea, much puking for the first half of your stay, indigestion, searing back pain, and ugly stretch marks. All you have to do is move out by October 5th.

I've got news for you little girl. We're coming in to get you tomorrow morning. So enjoy your waterbed and free cable today. Tomorrow it's going to get very bright and very cold. But don't worry. I'm still under contract to take care of your every need for the next 18 years or so.

Attitude

Andrewisms...

"Huh?" The child is driving me crazy with this one. He just doesn't listen. It's most frustrating when he specifically asks a question and then doesn't listen to the reply. And I was worried about his hearing, but he hears me just fine when I put a hand over my mouth or turn away from him to test if he can hear me. He's just turning into a man...with an uncanny ability to tune out a woman's voice.

I was particularly frustrated one afternoon and asked him "Are you deaf or just difficult?" He gave me a hug and said, "Just difficult, Mommy".




We installed Crunchy's carseat on Sunday night. Monday I pointed it out to Andrew and explained who it was for. Today I asked him who the car seat was for when I loaded him in the car for school. Andrew said, "It's for baby sister. And don't ask me again, Mom". As if I'm insulting his intelligence.



He drank way too much juice and not enough milk on Saturday. So Sunday I wasn't letting him have juice...and he didn't drink his milk either. At dinnertime, I commented to Jeff that I was concerned he wasn't drinking milk. Fast forward 2 hours to bedtime. Andrew starts fake crying in bed just minutes after I put him down. I begrudgingly open the door and ask what is wrong. Andrew replies, "My tummy feels sick. I didn't drink enough milk today." Stinker. He knew that was my button to push that day. BTW...he didn't get milk. I explained that he had brushed his teeth and he had had all day to drink milk so too bad for his tummy. So he got a sip of water from the a dixie cup and went right to sleep. Gotta commend him for trying, right?

How is it he can listen so well when I don't think he's even paying attention (aka listening in on Jeff and my conversations), and then he asks me a pointed question and responds, "Huh?"

Thank you

For your requests that I keep writing. Really, I think I may just be a little too hormonal to deal with the issues that come with a free service. I think that the solution to my blogging frustrations may come in the delivery of a 10 pound baby. :)

BTW...had my doctor's appointment yesterday. Lost a pound, BP great, baby's HR great. Cervix still 1 centimeter, 30% effaced. So no real progress. Since our moving truck is slated to empty our house October 23rd, I would really like to have the baby out by next Friday, so she can at least have her 2 week doctor's appointment here in Louisville. So the doc offered me a deal. If I am 2-3 centimeters by next Wednesday (my next appointment), he'll induce me Friday, October 6th. If not, he'll induce me Monday, October 9th. So I've been walking around like crazy trying to get that cervix to dilate. Funny how it doesn't even seem a possibility to me that I'll just go into labor on my own. Honestly I was surprised I was still a centimeter dilated. I really thought I'd go in and Dr. G would say, "Oh, wow, you are 120% effaced and -2 centimeters dilated. Your cervix has literally overlapped. I've never seen this. I think I'll move your due date to February 3rd."

Anyway...provided this post doesn't disappear into the netherworld...I'll try to post when my rational brain is in the forfront. Which may not be much of the time.

Gigi's blog hates her

Testing... testing... testing...

The end....?

I think this may be the end of my blogging days. I am so frustrated with this technology. I couldn't post for several days...apparently not only am I not allowed to change the settings, but I wasn't authorized to post on my own blog. Now I can post occasionally, but I usually have to republish the entire blog each time. So I decided to start a new blog...you know, one where I could change my descriptions, etc. And Blogger is being excruciatingly difficult about it. It finally let me have a new URL, but now any changes I make (like new descriptions), don't show up. ARGHHHHHH!!!!! For example...I changed my location to Pennsylvania. What is showing up on my brand new blog??? Kentucky. This is supposed to be a fun, therapeutic activity, not one to make me pull out my hair.

So this could be the end. Too bad, since it was a convenient way for me to pass along Andrew stories. Ah well, it's probably for the best. As soon as I have this baby and move to Philly, it will mostly be filled with whiny self-pitying posts...nothing I would want chronicled forever.

It's been fun-

We have a new house!

Or at least we're in escrow now. I tried to post some pictures, but Jeff didn't take any outside shots with our camera and I can't seem to like over from the MLS post...so...

We're excited. Excited that we don't have to keep househunting. There are pros and cons with this house as there are with all houses...we're just pleased with what we have. Of course I say "we", but I'm just kind of making a leap of faith. I've only seen a dozen or so photos of this house. The first time I actually see it, I'll be following the moving truck into our driveway. YIKES.

Cons: small bedrooms, laundry in the basement, unfinished basement, hilly backyard

Pros: looks like a nice sized kitchen (with pantry!), great school district, friendly neighborhood, 2 car garage, 4 bedrooms, new roof and windows

So here we go. But before I can worry about this new house, I have to worry about having this baby. And pray to God that she doesn't do as much damage as Andrew did so I can recover quick enough to move well. :) Moving now is not going to be fun, but I think we are in the best situation possible for it. Jeff's company will help a ton, and we are so fortunate to have 2 sets of parents willing to bend over backwards to help us through this transition. Oops...I'm making myself cry. Damn hormones.

Cooperative kids

Well, I think Crunchy has proven herself to be a cooperative kid. A few weeks ago I determined that I would go into labor last night. Why, you may ask? Only because I'm 12 days from my due date, Jeff is in Philly, my mother and father are up in Columbus for my nephew's baptism, Jeff's parents are in Philly, and so I would be home alone with a 3 year old with no family around.

But she's a good girl. Hardly any contractions at all last night...so I didn't even have a moment of worry. Andrew was an angel yesterday, despite torrential rain and a Mommy trying to stay off her feet...so I have 2 cooperative kids. We were walking into Petsmart last night, and Andrew looked up at me and said, "It's just you and me, Mommy, we're best friends". Melt melt melt.

So Jeff comes home this afternoon. Maybe. After a week of working half days at his new job and househunting half days, he has ended the week by BROADENING our housing search rather than narrowing it down. Just yesterday, the realtor sent him a few new listings in a higher price range at Jeff's request. The houses we were seeing required some MAJOR work...so we thought if we're going to be spending thousands and thousands of dollars fixing these houses, why not just look at more expensive houses? Put that money up front and get a house we don't have to renovate? Too bad we didn't think of that earlier in the week. Anyway, Jeff is going to try and get it to see a few of these primo estates this morning before his plane takes off. If he can't get in until the afternoon, he'll postpone his flight. So I'm prepared to squeeze my legs together a bit longer. :) Let's hope Crunchy keeps cooperating!

38 weeks

Still here...my mom's visiting while Jeff is in Philly househunting, so I've been chatting instead of writing in my blog :)

Anyway, had my 38 week appointment today. I am dilated 1 centimeter and not effaced at all. This is WAY further than I got with Andrew. He also told me that he would consider inducing me as soon as I got to my due date. And he estimated that Crunchy is almost 8 pounds already. Yippee.

BP fine, weight good (I gained, but I was also wearing tennis shoes, pants, and a jacket compared to the last appointment with flip flops, shorts, and a tank top), baby moving around a TON (shouldn't she be out of room by now)? So all is well in preggo land. I just want to wait until Sunday night when Jeff gets home and then she can come whenever she wants! Which, let's not kid ourselves, will probably not be until October 11th (that's the last day the doctor wants me to be pregnant...so he says).

Some of my favorite Andrew photos lately

Naked man won't get dressed!
Roasting marshmallows for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa's
Andrew all dressed up for the OSU-Texas game.
Andrew looking cute...and actually posing for the camera!!!

Don't get excited...

...if there is a gap in my posting (Kelsey!). I will NOT be having this baby early. I seriously carry babies up under my tonsils, where they have no contact with my cervix, thereby preventing any progress towards labor. With Andrew, I went to the doctor on my due date, and was BARELY a fingertip dilated. For those of you uneducated in dilation, here is a little explanation:

~~~10 centimeters dilated= HOLY CRAP....the baby is coming out NOW (or after 2 hours of pushing-they don't let you push until you get to 10, but that can be misleading)

~~~8 centimeters dilated= I believe this is transition...you shake and some people even throw up. Lovely. I wouldn't really know, as my drugs were working so well, someone could have amputated my foot and I wouldn't have felt a thing

~~~3 centimeters dilated= Some people walk around for weeks without ever going into labor at this point.

~~~fingertip dilated= What doctors tell a woman on her due date so she doesn't start crying hysterically to cut the baby out, it is never coming on its own. I believe it actually means that NOTHING has happened yet.

So there you go. I hope that cleared things up for you. No early labor for me. You will all have to wait just like me. But actually, I don't feel sorry for you, because you aren't even pregnant. ;)

37 weeks

Just a little update for my dedicated readers...

Had my doctor's appointment today (had to wait 3 hours!!!) and there has been no change. Cervix as tight as a drum, no effacement, BP good, gained 2 pounds. I think Jeff can safely go to Philly next week with no worries about missing his daughter's birth. :)

All boy

Yesterday, we met another mom and her daughter at a new restaurant for lunch. It is called The Patio. It has a few lunchy things, a lot of coffee, a lot of ice cream, and a great little play room. Think train sets, dress up clothes, a climbing/tubey thing, etc. They put a camera in so you can sit and sip coffee and keep an eye on your kid. They also lined the play room with comfy chairs so you can take your drink and sit and watch your kid play. One word. GENIUS.

So Carrie and I are sitting in the play area after lunch discuss "offical Mom's Club President" stuff. Andrew and Norah and running around having a great time, despite the hyper obnoxious child (whose mother apparently was sitting out in the restaurant...but I suspect had left to run a few errands). Norah found a pink treasure chest filled with dress-up clothes. Andrew ran over and they started dressing up. Andrew put on a pretty pink necklace, complete with charm, and picked up a magic star-wand. Norah did the same, except she also included a pair of wings (Andrew had no interest in the wings...although I thought for a minute he might want a dress from the box). Andrew then started dancing around with his wand to the music. Very funny. Norah had a t-shirt on with the tooth fairy pictured on it, so her mom asked if she was the tooth fairy.

Andrew...pink jewels and all...then proceeded to tell me that he was the "basketball fairy". And then he turned us into frogs...one by one.

Ahhhh, you can dress them up and make then pretty, but deep down they are still boys.

The "real" first day...

How can you live with someone for 2 years, 9 months and not know them? Literally watch them take their first breath, spend every waking minute (minus some that grandparents saw), and not know them? Well, that's me. Some day soon I'll be on the Oprah show about teen drug use saying "I just didn't suspect a thing"

I had to wake Andrew up in order to get ready for school on time. No big deal. He let me dress him, feed him breakfast, and talk about school. I tried to take a picture of him holding his tote bag and wearing his name tag, but he would have NONE OF IT.

On the drive there, he continually tried to veer me off the course to school. He saw the hair dressers "Mommy, I need my hair cut RIGHT NOW" ; then the grocery "Mommy, we need more food RIGHT NOW"; McDonald's "I'm hungry for a hamburger RIGHT NOW". Sadly, Mommy was wise to his game. We waited in the line of cars a bit anxiously. Andrew had put his "night-night" in his school bag to "help me not be scared". He took his name tag off and told me he didn't want to go to school alone. He wasn't crying, but his voice was quivering.

Then it was our turn. I pull up expecting the worst. Out of sheer coincidence (or the hand of God), Miss Bev was the staff member to get Andrew. Miss Bev is one of Andrew's teachers...the only one he knows. She opened the door, he smiled at her, and I swear she had him out and moving towards the school so fast he couldn't even look back at my car. Zoom...school day had started.

At about 10, I got a call from the school. Apparently, they try to call all the nervous little psycho Pre-school parents. According to the co-director that contacted me, she had "visited Andrew's classroom that morning. Other children were crying but not Andrew. Now he is at the playground". That was a nice gesture. I'm sure it's the same canned speech she gives all parents. Like they would ever call and say "I visited Andrew's classroom. All the children were playing nicely except for him. He was sitting on top of the bookshelf, throwing toys and screaming like a banshee".

I went to pick him up, and once again they bring him out to my car. This time his other teacher, Miss Colleen walked him out. He was all smiles...no puffy eyes or other signs of previous emotional trauma. Miss Colleen told me that not only did he NOT CRY ALL DAY (even in the very beginning), but she used him to HELP OTHER CRYING CHILDREN SETTLE DOWN.

What? My Andrew? Not crying...good for him. But actually helping the teacher distract and calm other children. Amazing.

Andrew couldn't stop talking the whole way home. He told me about playing with cars on the ramp, going to the playground, singing songs, how he is in the "red classroom", and how other children cried. He said several times "I had a lot of fun at school, Mom"

I'm just so proud I could squeeze him to death. Of course, he's so wound up from his first day of school, he's upstairs in his room throwing things around instead of sleeping. Maybe I'll just squeeze him to sleep. :)

36 weeks

I went to the doctor today. Despite my gut-busting weekend with the in-laws, I didn't gain any weight the last 2 weeks. And I was quite surprised that my blood pressure was the same as last appointment...I kind of thought it would be high with the move news and all. Dr. G checked my cervix...tight as a drum...big surprise (note sarcasm). He also predicted that this baby will be smaller than Andrew was. He said he'd re-evaluate in a few weeks, but he just can't see how I can be this small and have a huge baby inside. I'm not going to buy newborn clothes just yet :) Oh, and he did not recommend Jeff going out of town the week of the 17th (just 2 weeks before my due date). But we gotta pick out a house sometime! I'll just cross my legs really tight.

So all is well in baby-land. I have another appointment next week...I'll keep ya posted.

The first day...

This morning was Andrew's first day of school. Except not really. Because I got to go with him. It was more of an "open house", where the children get to meet their teachers, play with the toys, but there is no structure or instruction, etc.

So we got there about 10 minutes after they opened the doors (you could come and go any time they were open...again, not a structured day at all). Andrew walked in all excited...we had practiced saying his teachers' names on the way there. He asked me about 1000 times if I was coming with him, stressing that he did NOT want to go to school all by himself.

As soon as I arrive at the school I realize I am a slacker of a parent. Dads are there all dressed for work, children are dressed to the nines (Andrew was wearing his typical t-shirt and shorts). Not that it matters what Andrew was wearing, because I didn't bring a camera to document his first day. Other kids were blinking from all the flashbulbs as they posed in front of the school door. If I'm this bad for Andrew's first day of school, Crunchy will be lucky if I even show up!

We get to his classroom, and find his name on the door. Miss Colleen comes to greet us...and Andrew hides. Literally puts his face into my legs so noone can see him. I waddle into the classroom (not because I'm pregnant, but because my toddler was clinging to my knees) and try to pry Andrew off long enough to show him all the cool toys. He wanders off to play with cars, but as soon as a teacher approached him, he would run back and hide his face. They leave him alone and he played quite well. For about a half hour. Then he just started to cry hysterically. I'm not sure why. He was returning a book to the shelf, so I didn't see if someone talked to him, or a child took the book from his hand, or what. He couldn't tell me. After that it was pretty much play a few minutes, cry a few minutes. Oh boy. I'm sure they've checked off Andrew's name in their book...Crying when Mom is still in the room. And all the other kids were looking at him with such confusion. That's my boy! I've already started trying to prepare him for Thursday. That day, I don't even get to walk him in...they just come to your car and pull your child out. I would imagine Andrew will have a FIT. Those poor teachers. Today just proved to me how much Andrew needs this.

Oh, and God bless pre-school teachers. Not only do they have to deal with the crying children...they must have the most psycho parents of any age student. Dear Lord, as I was sitting there watching Andrew play and making small-talk with other parents, I overheard a few conversations parents were having with the teachers. How they refrain from rolling their eyes is beyond me. Here are some examples of ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS I heard...I don't even need to exaggerate these, I promise:

Parent- "Oh just wait until you get her going. She is just the smartest thing ever. She can count to 10 and knows almost all her letters."

Parent- "Everyone is really amazed by our child's fine motor skills. When she was a year old, her favorite thing to do was write with a pencil. She holds it like an adult and everything!"

Parent- "He can draw a circle and sort by color. None of my nieces or nephews were able to that until much older. Don't you find that amazing?"

And here is what I said as I left the room..."Good luck Thursday"

At least the parents won't be there :)

What a weekend!

We traveled up to my in-laws for the weekend, and had such a wonderful time. What a bland sentence. But I still remember that I need a topic sentence...so there you have it.

Jeff has recently worked a few 13 hour days, so he had earned an extra day off. So we started our trip Friday morning. When we stopped for lunch in Ohio, the temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees. Oops. Talk about packing wrong. For most of the weekend, we ended up borrowing clothes and wearing the same pair of pants over and over and over. The cool weather was actually very nice...I love fall weather. I just was completely unprepared for it. Oh, also when we stopped for lunch Jeff and I discovered that 2 years olds really don't grasp sarcasm. Let me replay our conversation in Wendy's:

Andrew- (quietly announces over his hamburger) I farted.
Mommy and Daddy continue talking and do not respond
Andrew- (a bit louder now) I farted.
Mommy and Daddy look at Andrew. Daddy says sarcastically, "Gee, Andrew. Why don't you say it a little louder? I don't think everyone in the restaurant heard you"
Andrew- (practically yelling) I FARTED!!!!

Needless to say, we were laughing hysterically. Silly Jeff to make a statement like that!

Friday night at my in-laws we tried out their brand new fire pit. I knew they were creating a fire pit, but this thing was FABULOUS. Jeff's cousin and uncle helped construct it out of stone. Really cool. Andrew discovered that roasting marshmallows is one of his new favorite activities. He surprisingly didn't like eating the s'mores much...usually he was done after one or two bites. But he really liked making them (the chocolate smooshes the mellowmesher), and delivering them to people. Actually, he more "presented" them to people...as if he was delivering a royal message or something. Very cute.

Saturday was a quiet day for Andrew and I. Jeff and his dad went to the OSU football game, and Grandma and I played endless board games with Andrew. And I mean endless.

Sunday we had the whole clan over...a great opportunity to see uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. Andrew hid in the basement with the toys most of the time...very social. But then when dusk came, we headed outside to the firepit again. Chef Andrew began eagerly cooking up his specialty...s'mores. He carefully selected who would get his precious gifts (I want to make one for that lady in the blue shirt).

Monday we gathered with the other side of the family. Bonus on this side...cousins closer to his age. Andrew followed his older cousins around and they graciously shared their GI Joe dolls and kicked soccer balls with him, etc. All day he just followed them around saying, "Wait for me, guys". So stinkin' cute.

So that was our weekend. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a relaxing, gut-stuffing several days. It was weird to think the next time I'm at my in-laws I'll have a little baby. Heck, the next time I drive up there, we'll probably be on our way to Philadelphia for the move. Scary.

Tomorrow is Andrew's first day of school! Of course, he gets to take me with him, so it doesn't really count. But I'll give a full update on that tomorrow!

So long, Farewell Louisville

What can you do to really mess with a pregnant woman's mind and emotions? I mean, by the 9th month, this pregnant woman's brain is filled with thoughts of sleepless nights, colic, sore nipples, learning to juggle 2 children, finishing the nursery, cleaning weird things around the house, etc etc etc. How about taking a new job hundreds of miles away so now that pregnant woman has to think about leaving her entire support system just weeks after the birth of her child. Yup...fun times.

So Jeff is taking a new job! Yea Jeff! He has been offered a technical manager position...which means he will be the manager of all engineers in the plant. They are upgrading this plant, so he will be in charge of all sorts of new computer systems, new products, etc etc. This job is tailor made for him. Truly, I have no doubt that he will enjoy his work. Oh, and the plant is in Philadelphia.

Poor Jeff. He was OVER THE MOON yesterday after taking the call. And his lovely supportive wife was so overcome with tears I had to hang up the phone when talking with him. This makes Jeff nervous, since he hasn't seen me cry since we lived in California (when it was a weekly if not daily occurrence). But I know this job is a good thing for him career wise...and since I don't have to work...this is what we do. So I explained to him that the tears are mostly pregnancy-induced-hysteria. He will have to get used to tears, because those hormones are going to be raging and fluxing for the next several months.

So let's review:

Philadelphia good-- Jeff gets a job I know will be good for him = Happy Husband
~We stay within driving distance of family...okay 9 hours of driving, but at least if there is an emergency we CAN drive it
~Jeff's company has their international headquarters, research division, and 4 plants in Philadelphia, so there is potential that we could live in one place until our kids graduate high school or later = stability = no more moving = YEA
~Philadelphia is a pretty cool place, so people will be more likely to visit us

Philadelphia bad-- Do we have to do this right when Crunchy is born???
~We won't see family nearly as much
~Do we have to do this right when Crunchy is born???
~High cost of living
~Do we have to do this right when Crunchy is born???

Anyway, that is the newest stress in our lives. We don't exactly know when we'll need to be in Philly...probably not until the beginning of November. Jeff apparently wasn't challenged enough by me when we moved to California, got married, and I started teaching all in the same month. He's unfortunately going to get another dose of "Giselle doesn't handle change well". Poor man. It's a good thing he loves me!

Belly shot- Crunchy at 34 weeks

Here's the much requested belly shot, taken last week. Sorry there's no skin...I just can't go that far :)

In a funk

I feel like writing more whiny posts...so I'm going to refrain from posting. I just feel...I don't know...not quite right. Everything is bothering me, I'm not sleeping well because I can't stop thinking, and just generally seem to be in a funk.

Here's an example: I just celebrated my birthday. Very nice. I got some money from generous family members. I don't know what to spend the money on. I don't have any hobbies, I don't have any collections, I've got nothing fun to spend the money on, I haven't seen a movie or listened to the radio in so long I don't even have any electronic entertainment to buy. Blah. I need new tupperware. Wow! That just shows me what an exciting person I am, that the only thing I can think of to spend my money on is leftover dishes. Yeah me.

So I'll try to cheer up and write more later. Blah.

34 weeks!

Just a little preggo update...

I had my doctor's appointment...he was on time and I was in and out in 30 minutes!!!! Yippee!

I gained 2 more pounds...for a grand total so far of 13 pounds. My BP was good. Apparently I peed well in the cup...no one mentioned anything there. When I got into the examining room my doctor announced that baby's lungs are now developing so if anything were to happen, she'd most likely be just fine if delivered..."good job". Yeah, thanks, I've been working so hard to keep this baby inside me for this long. That's like being congratulated on having blue eyes or small feet...not really something you have control over.

Then I asked him why Crunchy is hurting me (okay, I didn't call her Crunchy in front of him...I didn't want to be admitted to the psych ward today). He checked her heartbeat (sounded good) measured my girth (I'm measuring SMALL??? 32 1/2 weeks), and then felt to see what part was most likely causing my discomfort. Turns out she is head down...so she must just have a bony little butt. And STRONG feet. As I left, the doctor said "I'm afraid I can't tell you the discomfort is going to get better" which made both he and I chuckle. No kidding. I have six weeks left. She's just going to get bigger.

Anyway, all is good. 2 more weeks until I see him again...and that's the appointment that the lovely pelvic exams begin. Those were always depressing with Andrew (on my due date I was not effaced at all and not dilated at all...sad news for a 10 month preggo).

Is this really August?

The weather has been so pleasant! I can't remember an August like this. But there has to be a down side (or else all the millions of people in So Cal would move here). And that would be mosquitos. I just want to spend the whole evening in our glider, but the "kee-kee-toes" as Andrew calls them, are so fricking annoying. Andrew hates his little itchy bites. But he thought it was pretty cool when we smooshed one we saw on his hand. Jeff and I were swinging while Andrew played with his Little People on his picnic table. We saw one land on his hand, and...SMOOSH. Andrew picked it up and wanted to put it in his bug house. Hmmmmm...

Speaking of bug house...this has become the latest cool thing at our house (thank you Grandma). About a week ago, we caught a cicada (Ki-kay-da) that had been blown down from a storm. I picked it up (not with my hands, crazy people) and we put it in the bug house. It even chirped for us in there...which thrilled Andrew beyond words. We let it out after a while, but Andrew couldn't stop talking about it. While eating dinner that night, he wanted to catch another ki-kay-da. Jeff and I wouldn't go out with him until we finished eating, so he went outside on his own and we watched him pick up a teeny little stick and stand under our big tree with the stick held up high...just waiting for one of the giant scary looking things to fly down. So stinking cute.

We've also caught a moth, a black wormy thing that Jeff said was a caterpillar (I am doubtful) and a dead beetle in the last week. We are very good at catching dead things...and although I explain to Andrew that they are dead, he has no idea what that means. So we always release them so they can "go back to their families" as he says.

Ah, life with a 2 year old is so much fun. Or can be so much fun. :)