Perseverance: We Have It!

The Flyers lost. (Insert wah-wah sound of muted trumpet here.) I hope we didn't jinx them or something. At least the game was a lot of fun for the first half. 

So despite the hockey team's disappointing loss, I still saw many examples of perseverance in my world this week. For example, here is Lucy Anne at the playground. She is always watching and observing her big brother and trying to follow in his every footstep. She is almost always trying to ride or climb on something designed for kids at least twice her age. Often times she realizes rather quickly when something is a bit beyond her years, but every now and then she surprises us and herself! 

Sam can barely make it up these climbing bars by himself, so imagine how gob-smacked I was when she slithered up all by herself! In a skirt no less!

Annnnnnnnd dismount!

For myself, I've been trying to make a serious effort to take my camera with me more often when I leave the house. Especially on days when the kids are in school. I can think of hundreds of times when I've seen something awesome and I said, 'Man I wish I had my camera!' Luckily, I have also been persevering with this task! Which is how I ended up in a shopping center parking lot photographing this mossy old retaining wall. 

Did I get a few odd glances? You betcha. But just like Lucy, I didn't let it bother me. I just kept at it, and ultimately I was very pleased with myself!  

If at first you don't succeed, try try again!

What do you have to share this week?

An Open Letter To My Boobs

Dear Boobies - 

First of all, I'd like to thank you. You have nourished and sustained my two preshus babes and I'm sure you'll do right by the third. They have grown happy and fat on the fruits of your labor. And in general, you've kept a pretty nice profile, especially in the right bra. 

But therein lies the problem: The Bra.

You see, back sometime in 2005, before I got knocked up for the first time, you were a tiny, manageable little pair. I had literally dozens of bras in a variety of colors and styles, all in the easy to find size of 34B. Occasionally I had to buy an A cup or those smartly marketed 'Barely B' cups. I mean, look at those tatas back in September '05. 

Throughout my pregnancy with Sam, though, you grew. You grew a lot. I remember visiting a friend I hadn't seen in a while when I was about 24 weeks along, and the first thing she said when she saw me was 'Ohmygod your boobs are huge!' After Sam was born you really hit a growth spurt and exploded with milk. Look at this photo of me and my grammy with Sam from May '06. There was some serious boobage going on then. 

After we moved to Atlanta I gained some weight. I think it might have had something to do with testing out all of the new pizza/mexican/chinese takeout places, but it also might have had a little to do with being depressed. Then I got knocked up again. The weight gain/new baby in mah belly comby only served to motivate you to grow more. At that point I could fill out a C cup, but those were even getting a little tight.

Cut to now. I need to get a new bra for a wedding this weekend, because the only two I have that fit are a pair of stretched-beyond-belief nursing bras. I've picked up three different bras a three different locations and have had to return all of them. The smart thing to do would be to try them on in the store, but since I've had Sam with me all three times I've decided to skip the fitting rooms. Especially once he started offering me advice on colors and such. 

The size of these returned bras? 36D. 

Today I managed to get a minute in the fitting room alone thanks to my dear friend Carrie, and I was able to squeeze everything tastefully into a 38D. I would have preferred a DD, but they didn't have any. But it'll do. Luckily the straps aren't three inches wide, though it does have a four hook clasp. 

So boobs, let's make a deal, ok? You don't get any bigger during this pregnancy and nursing session, and I'll make sure I lose at least 25 pounds post-pregnancy. If most of that weight drops out from my cups, I might mourn a little for my lost cleavage, but just think of all those bras just sitting dormant in my drawer that will get a new chance at life! Everybody wins!

It's That Time of Year Again!

The apple trees are in bloom! Because we started losing sizable branches from the front tree last year as the fruit got heavier and heavier, we had to do a drastic emergency pruning. This year there are significantly less blossoms there than last year. The bad news is we'll have fewer apples come October, but the good news is that thinning out the tree makes for better pictures!

Some front yard blossoms, in full bloom. This tree gets sunlight alllllllll day long, so the flowers are already popping white.

But the backyard sees a little less sun, so there we still have tender pink buds. 

Despite majoring in biology in college and "knowing" all of the ins and outs of plant reproduction, it still never ceases to amaze me that these delicate little flowers will grow into sweet, crisp apples in a few months time. I tried explaining it a little to Sam, and I think he understood it about as well as he understands the whole baby-in-my-belly thing. Which is to say, not at all. That doesn't make it any less sweet when he talks about it, though. In fact, it might even make it more so. 

It might sound silly, but accidentally acquiring these apple trees has been something of a life altering event for me. I never really understood so many simple joys before them, and I'm sure there are many, many more to come.

To see what everyone else is sharing on this glorious Monday, visit Tracy at Mother May I. 

Theme Thursday: Week 3

Welcome back everyone! This week's theme was inspired by the Flyers and their continued presence in the NHL playoffs.

Week 3 Theme: Perseverance

I only hope they maintain their perseverance throughout today's game, which we'll be attending! 

Take a Walk On the Wild Side

Last weekend was lovely in Philadelphia and we worked on getting our garden plot into better shape. My poor husband, using only a shovel and a garbage can, transported at least 150 pounds of compost from behind our garage to our front yard. No small feat, I can tell you! In fact, it inspired him to actually go out and buy a wheel barrow, which would have saved him the sore back he incurred from all that lugging. 

Somewhere along the line, he discovered this little fellow (or gal) hopping in the mud.

 

He called us outside to take a look, and while I had planned to use some shots from our recent zoo visit for this Theme Thursday, once I saw this little toad I knew I had found my subject. Why? Well, have a look from the other side:

We had a crazy one-eyed toad jumping around in our yard! If that isn't wild, I don't know what is. There was a great deal of speculation as to how the eye went missing. Was one of our neighbors a witch, perhaps, or had our ferocious kitty cat had it for a snack? However the little amphibian lost it, he didn't seem any worse for the wear. Eventually he hopped into our bushes, never to be seen again. 

What do you have to share this Theme Thursday? 

P.S. Does anyone out there know if there is a way to enlarge your photos in a blogger post? I am already selecting the largest option on the download screen, but wouldn't mind getting them just a little bigger. Thanks! 

Macaroni Pictures

Do you remember my brother Dan? Well, he's gone and given himself a new moniker: Dusty Dan. Why? Well, if you were to visit his MySpace Page, you'd find out that because he loves his nephew and niece so much, he decided to write a children's album for them! Visit the same MySpace page to hear the title track, Macaroni Pictures, and then fall instantly in love with it! Email him and beg him to sell you a copy of the whole CD! Or wait until late May when it will be available for download on iTunes, and buy it then! Trust me, I have it already and it's awesome! 

(And I love using exclamation points!)

Another One Bites the Dust: Dead Fish 2.0

If you ever read my posts over at the Philly Moms Blog, then you already know that Sam's birthday fish died when we were away at the end of March. Quick recap: I bought a weekend feeder that didn't work and when we got home the fish was dead. We quickly concealed this fact and I picked up a replacement fish for all of $0.19 the next day and he was none the wiser. 

Well, Sunday night we discovered that Nemo 2.0 had also gone to the great fishbowl in the sky. First of all, I was PISSED! I spend several hours minutes once or twice a week cleaning the damn fishbowl, which was a total pain in the ass. I fed the little bugger right on time, and if he didn't eat everything I offered him I would fish out the excess so that his aquatic home would stay fresher longer. I did everything in my control to ensure he would have a long and happy life.

But this tweaker of a fish decided that all of my hard work wasn't worth it and he kicked the bucket. Last time this happened, we debated on how we would manage the situation in regards to Sam the next time. Now that it was, in fact, the next time we were still quite at a loss as to what to tell the kid. We fretted and debated, and then I did what I should have done right off of the bat. 

I called my mom. 

Naturally, she was able to come up with a stellar solution in mere seconds. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot of Finding Nemo, a young clown fish gets caught by a diver and put in a tank in a dentist's office in Sydney. He desperately wants to get back to his father in the ocean. A jaded old fish in the tank tells him that the only way to escape is to get out down a drain, because all drains lead to the ocean. 

(Never mind that these are salt water fish and the drains in question are all fresh water drains, unless somehow Aussies have the magic ability to consume salt water without, um, dying. Care to weigh in on that Arizaphale?) 

ANYWAY.

Conveniently, we had decided to keep the fish bowl on the kitchen counter, within reasonable distance of the sink. So my mother, of course, told me that when Sam discovers his fish is gone (because we totally flushed that mother effer first thing) we can just tell him that he jumped down the drain like Nemo so that he could go and find his daddy. Brilliant!

I hope I'm that smart when turn into a grandma. 

My Tiny Best Shot Monday

I found these flowers last week and I was amazed at their teeny-tiny-ness. Each one was about the size of a newborn baby's pinky finger nail. They were so delicate and beautiful, and most days I would have probably walked right by them without even noticing. Somehow, that day they caught my attention and made my smile a little brighter because of it! 

What captured your attention last week? Visit Tracy to share your Best Shot Monday. 

New Theme

On Monday we went to the zoo. On Tuesday and Wednesday it poured rain. Thursday was spent sick on the couch. By Friday we were so desperate to go outside and play I almost confused my kids with the animals we had seen earlier in the week. Which leads me to this week's theme...

Week 2: Wild

There are so many ways to interpret this one, and I'm excited for what you'll all have to offer. See you Thursday! 

What Happens When I Lose My Wallet?

Go find out over at Philly Moms! 

Theme Thursday: New Beginnings

Welcome to my first Theme Thursday! I had so many ideas for this week's theme, but then life presented me with the perfect subject. Isn't that always the way?

Sam was in the yard on Monday afternoon when he found this, the season's first dandelion. He asked if he could pick it, because he's a good little boy who has been admonished more than a few times for picking flowers out of our neighbors' yards. After carrying it around for a few minutes, he suddenly stopped and ran up to me. 'Mommy,' he said, 'I want to give this to you!' It was the first time he had ever picked a flower and given it especially to me! Now begins the time wherein my lovely little boy picks me posies! And just in time for the spring.

What new beginnings do you have to share this week? 

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

I just put my kids to bed. Everyone is a little sick, and I thought a slightly earlier bed time would do everyone a world of good. While I had the kids upstairs getting them in their pjs, SOB called up and asked what we were doing. I gave him a rather 'duh' toned response that I was getting the kids ready for bed. 

After putting Lucy down with no protestation, I got Sam changed and bargained with him for ten more minutes of downstairs time in exchange for total cooperation during the pj-ing process. We came back down and I went to set the TiVO for the hockey game, which I thought was starting in ten minutes. 

As I searched the schedule for the game, I realized that somehow, I had lost an hour. I mistakenly believed it was 6:50 when in fact it was 5:50. And I had already put one child to bed. Since she's quiet up there, I'm letting it go and keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't get up before dawn tomorrow. I had Sam convinced he was going to bed at 5:50, so he's totally fine with going to bed at 6:30. 

Who knows? maybe I'll go to bed at 7:30. 

Reunited, and It Feels So Good

On Monday night I had a dinner with someone I hadn't seen or spoken to properly in almost twelve years. And it was pretty awesome!

I spend a great deal (read: way too much) time online. I blog here. I blog there. I also blog over there. I read 749 other blogs. I tweet. I read random fashion and TV sites. I occasionally try and keep up with the news, too. And now I'm even getting Sam into playing online, so I usually spend some time at Sprout.com most days. So I resisted with great fervor the bevy of social networking sites laid before me in recent years. I knew they would just be a non-essential time suck. 

Then my dad signed up on the Facebook, and I was cornered. I got an invite from him, and I can't say no to my daddy. If you ever want something from me and don't know how to get it, just have my dad ask for you. I'm helpless against him. So I joined up. 

At first, the only 'friends' I had were relatives. I'm the oldest of my generation, so I started following all of my hip teenage cousins. But after my brother signed up, I started discovering some old high school people. Some I barely knew, but others I had been close with. I lost touch with pretty much everyone from high school right after I started college because I was hell bent on re-inventing myself. I moved 300 miles away and pretended that the place where I came from never existed for a few years. Luckily, I made some pretty awesome friends in college, but because I was a dumb ass I left behind a few pretty awesome friends from high school.

Enter the Facebook. Through my bro I was friended by M, one of my best high school buddies. We chatted back and forth about life in the past decade and did the general catching up thing. Then she said she was going to be in town for work and would love to get together. Right off the bat I agreed, and while I was excited I was also extremely nervous. 

First of all, I am pregnant, and besides that somewhat, um, larger than I'd like to be. Especially compared to high school. I mean, at least I have the whole pregnancy thing going as an excuse, but still? Large and in charge. Secondly, I am boring! One of the very first messages she sent me contained the word 'legendary' and I can assure you, there is NOTHING legendary about my life right now unless you count the number of asses I wipe on a daily basis. Because I do, in fact, wipe a lot of butts. But everything else? Meh. I drive a fucking mini-van. Going to the Y and grocery store are big outings for me and the kiddies. I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world, but it doesn't make for very interesting dinner conversation. 

As the days ticked down to our date, I began to fret over what I was going to wear and what restaurant we should go to. I flat ironed my hair, people. I've been with SOB forever, but I can only imagine that this is what dating must be like. 

Finally the day arrived. 

I went out to pick Lulu up from school, and when I got back she was there, looking as youthful and radiant as she did in 1997. After an embrace and an admonishment from Sam to talk quietly, as he was watching TV, we moved into the dining room and started talking. The conversation flowed as easily as it did all those years ago, and even though it was cliche, I got out a box of photos and we poured over the old images. Sometimes we couldn't remember what or when or where, but we laughed all the same. Dinner was more of the same. Our meal was eaten at a snail's pace because we just couldn't stop talking. New stuff, old stuff and everything in between. Stories of people who have ended up in prison (mostly) made us laugh and stories of people who have died made us pause, sometimes to keep the tears from spilling, other times just to take it in. 

Once we said our goodbyes, and made plans for another get together in the near future, I spent almost an hour giddily recounting every minute to SOB. He knew better than to stop me, so he switched on his video game and listened with half an ear as I prattled on and on, quite literally like a school girl. 

Me & M.C. 1996

Easter Weekend

For more Best Shot Monday, visit Mother May I. 

Theme Thursday's New Home

Stacy, who has graciously hosted Theme Thursday for as long as I've been playing, has decided to pass the torch along. Naturally, as soon as she said that my hand flew up into the air to volunteer as the new host. Megan at Mental Inventory is going to be pitching in as well, especially when #3 comes along, so be sure to check her out! 

For those of you familiar with Theme Thursday, welcome to it's new home! For those of you who are new to Theme Thursday, well, it's really quite simple. On Saturdays (or maybe Fridays) I'll announce the week's theme, and on Thursday post your picture. Then stop by here and leave a comment with a link to your post and check out what everyone else has to offer! Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate. 

The theme for week #1 will be simple: New Beginnings

A little about me and my photography: I consider myself a novice, so I hope to learn more from you! I've been shooting with a Cannon Rebel XTi for almost three years, and I have a few fun lenses to play around with. I try and shoot in manual mode as much as possible, but my kids are speedy little buggers, so sometimes I switch to auto without the flash. I've only recently started working with Photoshop, but I've used other editing software such as Photo Studio and other basic programs like iPhoto. I love shooting pictures of kids and nature, mostly, and I'm pining for a macro lens for mother's day, so keep your fingers crossed for me! 

So welcome! Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments if I don't already know you from Theme Thursday, and even if I do feel free to comment anyway. See you Thursday!

The Subtleties of Secularity

Up to this point in our young family life, we've kind of avoided the topic of religion with the kids. This past Christmas was the first time we even discussed the meaning behind the holiday, but we really only kept to the Santa bits and avoided the whole Jesus aspect. My parents take the kids to church periodically, but at the tender age of 3, I just don't think Sam has enough mental capacity to grasp the whole 'saviour' concept. 

Another concept he's having trouble with? The Easter Bunny. At least Santa is a person, therefore his actions are something Sam can understand. The whole down the chimney thing was a little confusing for him, but we just glossed over it and he was happy. An anthropomorphic bunny that brings egg and candy and hides them in a basket while he sleeps? Totally blew his mind and confused him. 

And don't even get me started on Passover. I know next to nothing about other religious holidays, but they talked a lot about Passover at school. I was able to answer 0% of Sam's questions in regards to roasted bones. 

So I'm hoping we can just wing it on Sunday morning. Once he gets some chocolate and jelly beans in him, I'm sure he'll be happy to accept any explanation we offer up. Sugar does that to a kid. Maybe that's why all of these holidays seem to center on gifts and goodies.

The End of an Era

Today is Stacy's last day of hosting Theme Thursday. I am sad, but hopefully it will live on somewhere...

I didn't have a great shot signifying the end of anything, but then I discovered this little gem. Right after this adventure, the toy stroller met it's untimely demise. Lucy's, erm, ample tushy tore right through the seat. It was only $9, so it can be replaced easily, but we might have to make some new rules about who can or cannot ride in it!

Visit Stacy for Theme Thursday one last time!

Insulated

I am lucky. Some might even consider me spoiled, but you'd have to take that up with the universe, because no one else could really take responsibility for spoiling me. Why? I have lived my entire adult life without suffering through the loss of someone I love. My cat died about six years ago, and I loved her, but as far as humans go, everyone is present and accounted for. 

Which is probably why I totally lost my shit today when my mom called to tell me that my grandmother, my dad's mother, has cancer. And why I kind of lost my shit last night after hearing that my own mother has some irregular lump in her breast. Scarier still because her mother, my other grandmother, had breast cancer when I was in high school. She lived in Florida at the time, and like I said, I was in high school, so I was able to keep myself physically and mentally removed from the situation at the time. Luckily she survived and is still in good health today.

My problem is that I find my coping ability in these situations to be totally inadequate. I am either a big, messy mess of a person or I am a denial machine. I either weep uncontrollably or I do mountains of laundry. My pillows are in the washing machine right this very moment, but this morning when Sam's balloon string got caught on something and his beautiful orange balloon blew away, we both cried. 

In reality, I knew (know) that no one lives forever. Grandparents are kind of at the top of the list of people who are going to die sooner rather than later. Just since our marriage all three of SOB's grandparents had passed away. I've held the hands of several friends as they said goodbye to their grandparents. 

But another part of me wants to scream 'no fucking fair world! I've gone on this long without having to say goodbye, and you're a real ass hole if you're going to make me start now.' I know she isn't dead yet, but still that's right where my mind goes. 

Juvenile? Of course. It's what I'm best at. I feel like I dealt with my fair share of loss as a child, which is another story that I think I might have touched on before. Rest assured, it was a totally raw deal. I think I should get a pass for another twenty years or so, ok? Long enough for my kids to grow up knowing their great-grandparents, people who have already made their way into those tiny hearts.

Please?

Steamy Dreaming

Ah, pregnancy hormones! Almost every time I close my eyes for some sweet, fleeting slumber I am accosted. Accosted with images of middle school crushes all grown up, pediatricians, random political figures. 

Naked.

Not only are they naked, but I'm there. Oh, and I'm naked, too. And usually engaged in some sort of behavior I would never, in one thousand years, even think about attempting with my pediatrician. Things I didn't even know about back when I was crushing on Brian in middle school. Maneuvers that would get even the smallest of local politicians in the national news. 

I would give anything for a nice, regular dream about my kids or my husband! Something weird and random, like everyone having broccoli for ears, would be a nice change of pace. I think at this point I would even take the 'taking a test I didn't study for' anxiety dream over the endless x-rated visions I'm having currently. 

Because it's exhausting, really, being the star of a p0rn0 that runs daily from about 10pm until 7am. I wake up needing a nap. And a shower. 

April Showers

Soon we'll be a bloom with May flowers, I can only hope! Until then, we'll be pulling out the boots and stomping in the puddles!

--

For more Best Shot Monday photos, visit Mother May I. 

History

This is me and my best friend Jen, sometime around 1994 or 1995. I was in eighth or ninth grade. As you can tell by the bottle of liquor in my hand, I was quite the feisty teen. Jen was a bit of a rabble rouser herself, what with her illegal firearms and all. Our mothers' went gray that summer. 

Just kidding. We were both perfect angles, at least for a little while longer!  

Obviously I didn't take this photo, but I recently discovered it and thought it would fit the bill for Theme Thursday. I'm driving down to Virginia (all by my self!) tomorrow to visit her for the weekend, which is my first solo trip since Sam's birth, if you can believe that! We're going to walk on the boardwalk and get pedicures and watch Clue. I'm very excited, to say the least!

For more Theme Thursday, visit The Land of K.A. 

1,111

What a milestone! 

1,111 posts in, and all I want to whine and complain about the dead car in my driveway. I wanted to write something fun and uplifting, but, DEAD CAR! Did I mention that said dead car is only two days old? Yeah. Someone from the dealership is on their way over right now to kiss my ass and hopefully, fix my car. Bastards. I guess it's a good thing that this happened today when I have no where to be, rather than tomorrow when I have to take the kids to school and the cat to the vet. 

But even though I don't have to be anywhere, I'd like to go to Wednesday Spaghetti tonight with Sammy. Even if it means I have to attempt to parallel park a Town & Country in south Philly. 

(BTW, I think it's called a Town & Country because the size of the vehicle can be estimated to be somewhere between the size of a town and the size of a country. A small country, like Luxembourg or Swaziland, but still.)

ANYWAY, I'll be done bitching the new car now because it's actually a few hours later and they did come and temporarily fix my car, so on to other, more exciting things!

Yesterday my little tiny prodigy of a daughter potty trained her self. I'm not sure it's totally for real, but she's done it more than once, so it's at least something she's willing to repeat! She even did it again today. I bought her some little underpants today at Target, which I plan to bust out after nap time, and I'm sure I'll end up doing some wash, but wouldn't it be the most awesome thing ever if she just decided that she's going to up and start using the potty? She's my favorite girl ever!

To celebrate both the amazing peeing child and my 1,111th post, I'm giving away some crap! Well, it's not really crap because that wouldn't be much fun, would it? Also, I think sending crap in the mail is technically illegal, so how 'bout I just give away some stuff I have that is cool but not getting used and we'll call it crap? 

First! A purse! If you remember from January, I have lots of purses. So even though this one is very cool, it won't see much use on my shoulder. Plus I think that there is a mandate somewhere that all moms must carry purses the size of hockey bags, and this one is just a nice, intermediate size. It's the ultimate cool gift for an eco-chic kind of girl because it is made from recycled grocery bags!

See? It looks like it's straw or something, but it's actually plastic bags! The inside has a nice pink and brown paisley lining with three pockets to hold all of your junk, and it has a nice brown button closure on the front. 

And because I realize that sometimes I have to throw the fellas a bone, how about this green Ralph Lauren polo shirt, size XL? SOB got two from his mother at either Christmas or his birthday, and for some reason one fit and the other didn't. This one was a bit small on him, so it would probably fit someone who would normally fit in size L. 

It's actually a bright green color, but it's dreary and overcast here so my photos suck. Sorry! Both items still have tags on them, by the way. 

To enter leave a comment here between now and 12 noon on Friday 4/3 with a valid email address. If you want to tell me about your favorite post from the past 1,110 posts, that would be nice. Or you can just tell me how smart and funny and beautiful I am. It won't get you any bonus points, but it will give me an inflated ego! A winner will be chosen at random, and the person who makes my head the most inflated might just end up with a little bonus prize, if I'm in the right mood!

Game on!