Brotherly Love October 14, 2008

Last week Mr. Man’s school was hosting their semi-annual book fair.  This is always a big deal, as Mr. Man LOVES him some books.  As Mr. Man, DB, and I were all standing there, looking at the books, a little boy about Mr. Man’s age, and his older brother who was about 7, came sauntering over to us.  The little boy proceeded to get right in DB’s face and roar loudly at her.  Now, living with Mr. Man every day… not much gets to DB.  So, she stood there and stared at the boy.

Mr. Man though, went right up to the boy, got in his face, and said “Don’t do that to my sister… or I will beat you up!”  I of course told Mr. Man that we do not speak that way, but inside, I was thinking “YES!  He is going to stand up for his sister when she needs it!”

Later that night, my parents were over and I was relaying the story to them.  Mr. Man overheard and said “Well, I said that to the younger kid, but I did NOT say that to the bigger kid!”  I started cracking up… he sticks up for his sister, yet even he knows his boundaries!

I’m a Lucky Girl July 20, 2008

My birthday was on Thursday, and last night Dandall treated me to a nice dinner, AND tickets to the Coldplay concert!

We ate at Strip Steak, and oh my God… my intestines are still hurting today from all of the rich food.  It was worth every bit of it though.  We started off with Lobster wrapped in bacon, then fried in a light batter, topped with cream, a squirt of lime, then wrapped in lettuce.  We were also treated to a trio of differently seasoned french fries… all fried in duck fat.  For dinner, it was creamed corn with jalapenos, potato and shallot cakes, and the best meat I steak I have ever sunk my teeth into… a Kobe beef rib cap.  I had never heard of a rib cap, but apparently, it is the cut of meat right below the fat, and right before the rib eye cut.  Oh my God… I was seeing stars.  Then, when Dandall told me they marinate their meat for 24 hours in hot oil, I knew I would probably be seeing stars all the way to the bathroom later that night.  And, I did.  And, it was worth it.   NOT a meal to be eaten every day though.  NO way…

Oh, and let me not forget dessert… homemade donuts with three dipping sauces… butterscotch, Carmel ice cream, and jasmine infused chocolate.  The angels were singing when I put one in my mouth…

The Coldplay concert was one of the best I have ever been to.  I just love it when the lead singer actually sounds better in person than recorded, and he did!  Not a very common site… at least these days.  They were awesome performers, and even went all the way up to the cheap seats, plunked down, and sang a couple of songs up there!  I have never seen anything like that!  If you ever get a chance to go see them… GO!

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Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! July 1, 2008

Well, today is Doodle Bug’s first birthday!  This by far has been the fastest year of my life.  It feels like I only had her a few months ago, and now she on ONE!  Doodles has brought SO much love into our lives… she really is a ray of sunshine, and hope, and renewal. 

Doodle Bug wasn’t supposed to arrive until July 3rd.  Actually, her “due date” was July 14th.  But since I was having a c-section, I was scheduled for July 9th.  Then, my OB saw how miserable I was, and how low the baby was, so she rescheduled me for the 3rd.  Doodles had plans of her own though.  At 3:00 a.m. on July 1st, I was abruptly awoken by sharp contractions, and Darbee let me know she was coming… and she wanted out NOW.  I will spare you the rest of the details (like my OB being out of town, me totally grilling the OB on call for her whom I had never met, the slight issues during surgery, etc.), but at 9:25 a.m., I heard the cry of the 6 pound, 9 ounce 18.5″ piece of my heart that had just left my soul and entered the world. 

New born bundle…

One month…

2 months…

Three months…

Four months…

Five months…

Six months…

Seven months…

Eight months…

Nine months…

Ten months…

Eleven months…

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!

He Never Ceases to Amaze Me… June 25, 2008

Sometimes… well a lot of the time, if you just hang out and have fun with Mr. Man, the funniest things will creep out of his mouth.

For instance, last night, he and I were swimming.  First, we pretended that we were in the ocean.  We saw a lot of great white sharks, and narrowly escaped a Parana attack.  Whew!

Next thing I know, our house is a hotel, and we are swimming in the hotel pool.  I asked Mr. Man how much the hotel room cost, and he said $50.00.  I told him what a great deal that was, then asked him how he paid for it.  His response… “Oh… I hooked it up online!”  WHAT?  Um, what 4 1/2 year old says something like that?  Maybe a 4 1/2 year old who’s parents spend too much time on the computer?  I laughed so hard, I almost drowned.

Another kick Cooper is on (since he found out that his friend is going to be a big brother) is NO MORE BABIES.  He has told me numerous times within the past couple of weeks that he does not, under any circumstances want another baby in the house.  He says that he and Doodle are okay, but two is plenty and he does not want anymore.  This is from the same boy who used to want two sisters and two brothers!  I asked him why and he said that babies cry to much!  Then, I asked him about Doodle, and what if she wants a baby brother or sister someday.  He reassured me that she won’t.  I asked him how he was so sure, and he said “Well, because she doesn’t talk… so she can’t ask for one!”

We’re Gonna Party Like it’s Your Birthday… June 10, 2008

Doodle’s first birthday is upon us.  It is in less than a month, in fact!  Where does the freaking time go, I tell you!  I feel like I was just hot and miserable yesterday!  As a side note, it was 118 degrees outside on July 1st, 2007, the day that Doodle was born.  One of the happiest, and hottest days of my life.

So of course, I am planning a birthday party!  Now, Mr. Man’s first birthday party was a fairly big party.  And yes, I am planning on doing the same for Doodle because I try to make everything as equal as I can for their big events so I won’t hear about it when they are 13.  Dandall is dreading this, as he hated Mr. Man’s first birthday party.  Too many people, too busy hosting, and not enough time enjoying.  I told him to suck it up, as this party is going to be the same.  When he asked how many people were going to be invited, I told him about 30, give or take a bit.  He knows me well enough to know that the words “give or take a bit” are something to panic about.

I don’t plan on getting too carried away, as we already “discussed” the invitation list last night, and it is really not too scary.  After we finally got through the “do we have to invite them?” and the “well, if we invite them, then we have to invite those people as well” discussions, we are both pretty happy about it… I think.  At least I am, and well, that is what really matters after all, isn’t it?  I joke…

So, I am anxiously awaiting for the invitations to be done so I can send them out, and starting to keep myself up at night with thoughts of the cake, food, etc.  Basically driving myself crazy.  I had a conversation with JJ about this very thing, and how stressful kid’s birthday parties have become.  She said that her mom mentioned that very thing to her.  Back in the “old days” when we were little, birthday parties were simple.  They were always at your house… not some entertainment warehouse type of place for children that ends up costing you an extra $500.00 for two hours.  There was cake and ice cream served… period.  No full-on meals, no appetizers, etc.  Also, favor bags were not invented yet.  You maybe played pin the tail on the donkey, or something similar, but that is about as complicated as it got.

When did all of this change, and when is it all going to come back?  All in favor of retro children’s birthday parties, say “I”!

Shhh…

I have a secret.  I’m not saying it out loud, because I don’t want to jinx it!

But… a certain someone in our house has FINALLY been sleeping thought the night for the past two weeks.  I am talking from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. sleeping though the night!

Two new teeth are looming, so we’ll see if it keeps up…

Woe.Is.Me. May 23, 2008

That’s right.  I have been gone quite a while, and although I am sure no one has really noticed (except for my brother, who never leaves damn comments anyway), I noticed, and I missed the blog.  I guess I just didn’t feel like I had that much to write about.  A lot in my mind, but nothing that I can quite type out.

The fam has been really busy, which is great, and exhausting.  Mr. Man’s soccer season is coming to an end, Dandall got a great promotion and is busier than ever, Doodle Bug is growing like a freaking weed at 22 pounds and almost a year old.  Almost a year old… I can not believe I just typed that.  AND… we just got back from a fabulous Disneyland trip.  This year has been the fastest year of my life.  That, I know for sure.

I am still trying to find my way in this crazy life of motherhood, staying at home, and also working from home.  I am very lucky that I can stay at home, and am lucky that I found a job that I could do from home that allows me to have this lifestyle.  I would be lying if I said it was easy though.  The only time I can really work is while Doodle Bug naps, or after the kids go to sleep.  “Me” time has become obsolete, and well, I miss it.

I guess I am torn.  I have a great life, and am thankful for it every day.  On the other hand though, because I stay at home, I feel like I should be “Super Mom” and “Super Wife”.  I should have an impeccable house, always have nice, well balanced, carefully prepared meals on the table for my family, spend lots of time making crafts and fun games with my kids, and do it all with a smile.  No one makes me feel like I should accomplish all of this though except for me.  I do it all to myself.

And while doing all of that, I feel like I should have the time to keep up and reconnect with my friends, and make new friends… spend time working on things that I love such as baking, cake decorating, sewing, learning to knit, etc.  I feel like I should make the time and have the energy to exercise, and take care of myself.  I feel like I need to make “me” a priority once again.  Then, I feel guilty for even thinking that.

I also feel like I must be the only woman feeling this way.  Do others really make themselves this crazy and have ridiculous standards that they feel they need to live up to?  I want to say no, but I have a feeling that the answer is yes.

When I was growing up, my mom stayed at home.  She was the PERFECT mother in all ways… June Cleaver meets Martha Stewart meets Mrs. Brady, etc.  Seriously.  How did she do it ALL?  How did she pull it all off with a smile on her face?  What was her secret?  Now… she did make some decisions with my father that peeved me, and that I will probably never understand, but as a mother… WOW.  I will never measure up.  And I want so desperately to.  I have asked her how she did it all, and she just shrugs it off with a half-not really-answer.  Tell me the damn secret… WOMAN!  Or maybe the real secret is that things weren’t as perfect as I remember them to be.  The childhood memory part of my brain finds that hard to believe though.

If someone has the answer to pulling all of this off… please contact me ASAP.  Thank you.

My First Dress April 10, 2008

My first dress that I made by myself that is!  Doesn’t Doodles look cute in it?

My Babes are Growing!

I’m back!  I took a haitus because I am doing medical transcribing from home to earn some extra $ to help out, and boy have I been busy!  I will try to post more often here though as well!

I wanted to share some pictures of the kiddos that were taken this week!  Man oh man, do I love those kids!