Like Mother, Like Daughter

It should be no surprise to those that know me well-- my daughter doesn't like to touch anything outside.

Home Repairs

We've committed ourselves to home improvements for the next couple of weeks. I will post periodically, but for now, I must concentrate on this old house.

No Way!

Is she really this big already?

Friends

Here's Lydia with her friend, Vivian. She really likes her.

Spring?

Look what we did after dinner tonight:

No-Pain Boy

I didn't know I was raising a superhero.

It appears that my boy has a very high pain tolerance. This was confirmed a few weeks ago when we visited the allergist. I assumed his allergies weren't bad because he didn't even try to scratch the large welts on his back. The doctor was amazed. That same visit, the doctor poked at least 16 needles in Jonah's upper arm. Jonah just looked at me around #13 and said, "That hurts, Mama." No tears. No screaming. No need to physically restrain him while the doctor was completing the test. The doctor shook his head in disbelief.

We went to this same doctor today for a checkup now that he's on some allergy medications. We were in the office for three minutes. He looked at his eyes, his ears, and his throat, and immediately said, "He's got strep throat...He must have a high pain tolerance." He obviously didn't remember us from before-- but that's not the point. The point is that Jonah has a pretty nasty throat right now and has acted normal-- never once complaining that his throat hurt. I know it's all part of his sensory issues that I've talked about before.

So I've nicknamed him No-Pain Boy. This "condition" does have its benefits. He rarely cries if he's hurt, and I know if he comes running to me on the playground with tears streaming down his face, it's serious. He's not afraid to try anything, and even if he falls, he stands up and keeps running. He's brave. He's a risk-taker. He's all boy.

Yet there are some problems that arise too. Yes, that's right--he could be sick and I wouldn't even know it. He'd leap tall buildings in a single bound if I'd let him. He can't really comprehend the word "gentle."

I imagine he'll be in the Guiness Book of World Records someday-- for walking a mile over cut glass or something like that.

For now, he's my little superhero.

Epiphany

So I've decided I don't like the decorating style of my home. It's not really "me." I know, I know. This is an expensive epiphany.

While looking at Pottery Barn magazines this weekend, I found myself drawn to the airy, feminine rooms. And in those rooms, I found myself looking at items that weren't being sold in the catalogue. My eye was drawn toward unique pieces that could only be found at antique stores or flea markets.

I think back to cleaning out my in-laws' home. I wanted to keep all the table linens because I love that "old look..." I've admired my grandma's quilt for years and can't wait until I can use it in my home... I'd love to display my paternal great-grandmother's china in my dining room... My favorite part about Lydia's room is an old window frame that I adorned with my great-grandmothers' handkerchiefs.

I shared this revelation with Mike. I don't think he's opposed to it. Since our house is pretty simple, it shouldn't be that difficult to change.

So after a conversation with my personal decorating consultant, a.k.a. Molly W., I'm excited. I'll start with the living room. It's where the biggest transformation will need to take place. I want to paint the fireplace, move the television armoire, distress the coffee table, paint the rocking chair, etc. I won't begin the project until June-- just to let it simmer in my mind, collect ideas, shop, etc. It's something to look forward too, though, if I'm feeling stuck in this town.

Thank You

Thank you, Pop and Grammy, for everything you do. We love you!

Are you kidding?

Yesterday, the Schwan's man came to my home. We were perusing the catalogue, and he says, "And since it looks like you're pregnant...."

I didn't hear the rest of the sentence.

"I'm not pregnant," I say, "I have a nine month old."

Now I know my stomach sticks out disproportionately to the rest of the body, but hey, I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm back to my pre-pregnancy size-- my proportions are just a bit different. I accept it. I'm okay with it. And I know with a little running this spring, my stomach will probably be a little more normal too.

So my self-esteem was fine, but the part of myself that just wants to make everyone feel comfortable wondered what I should say next...

"Moron."

That's what I should have said.

"You're a moron."

My New Friend

While leaving Wal-Mart today the greeter says to me, "My, she's really getting big, isn't she? How old is she now?"

I see this man almost every time I'm in the store, but I've never given him more than a friendly nod. "Almost nine months," I reply.

"Oh, that's right. She was a summer baby, wasn't she?"

Wow! Either he's that good....or I shop at Wal-Mart way too much.

Snack Time!

Every evening we look forward to our nightly snack. It always, without question, includes a fruit smoothie. Mike is the expert smoothie maker. His recipe is simple:

a little orange juice
a little plain non-fat yogurt
a handful of frozen strawberries
a handful of frozen mixed fruit
a banana

Mmmmm, good!

Deep Thoughts by Jonah

Jonah decided to count freckles on my arm tonight. This is what I heard:

"...seven, eight...Mama, you're soft...Daddy's hard...you guys are bumpy."

Hmmm...perhaps he's been studying textures in school???

Mom my Ride

I've Never Laughed So Hard

fun at the skate park

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

October Road.

Is anyone else watching this show? I love it. Mike was making fun of me for my "girly sigh" while tuning in last night. It has a late time slot, but I'm hooked. I think I'd rather watch it than Grey's Anatomy; it's much cleaner these days, that's for sure.

Photoshoot

My friend, Molly, suggested we have a photo session today. I thought it was a great idea since I don't really have any good pictures with the kids.

Jonah is in this phase where he says "cheese" but refuses to look at the camera (even when bribed with a lollipop), and Lydia was just a little sad this afternoon--she's had cold. So, these are the best we got...

SmackDown

LIBRARY VS. ME

I've got on my fancy spandex. I've entered the ring. I'm prepared to fight.

Let me explain why.

I'm not one to lose sleep over trivial things, but I recently woke up angry in the middle of the night. I tossed. I turned. I groaned. Why? The library. I lost sleep over the local library. Go figure.

Our library just had a complete overhaul. It used to be cramped and severely outdated, so for the past year I've watched and anxiously anticipated the grand opening of a brand new facility.

I visited this beautiful place a few weeks ago and was shocked to find there was no section designated for children. Think back to any local library you've ever visited. There's always a special place for kids to sit and read, isn't there? It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but I don't really believe it's practical for kids and adult books to be in a shared space-- especially if you're designing a brand new facility! I remembered the old Pataskala library kids' section was a room behind the circulation desk. Heck, if Pataskala could get in right in 1980 then you would think this small town could figure it out today.

So I got mad.

I shared my frustration with Mike (yes, we had a conversation at 2 a.m. about the library). Apparently, the library director had come to a rotary meeting with the new plans, and when Mike asked what they were providing for children, everyone laughed.

Hmmmmm....I certainly don't live in a community with many young professional families, do I? You know, as long as they have a new room for the quilt club and a few tables for the old folk to come and read the daily newspaper, I guess they've supposedly met the needs of the community.

But my fight has only just begun.

Tune in to Smack Down next Friday night on the CW channel.

It just might be me you see.

A Lot Alike

I was just looking at old pictures of Jonah. I think this was taken when he was the same age that Lydia is now. They look alike, don't they?

Praise God

I had a bit of a scare this afternoon. Lydia started choking while eating lunch. I didn't panic initially-- when it has happened with the kids before, I know they just need to work it out by themselves (as long as they're still breathing). But as I was watching her and holding up an arm (a neighbor just told me about that last week), she stopped breathing and started turning purple. Thankfully, in the quick instance that I started to remove her from the high chair, she worked it out. It was a Disney DVD Bingo chip. The game was intact on the shelf so a chip must have found its way into one of her baskets of toys. And she obviously had it tucked in her cheek when I placed her in the high chair for lunch. Swallowing pears with a bingo chip doesn't work too well--

So scary.

I just put her to bed for the night. While rocking and looking at her precious face, I was reminded of what could have happened. Thank you, Jesus. Thanks for my little girl-- and thanks for protecting her.