tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347110572024-03-06T17:52:36.299-12:00Mint Juleps and Sassafras TeaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-49694087383306725952010-08-06T07:33:00.000-12:002010-08-06T07:34:12.267-12:00Currently blogging here instead of Tumblr<a href="http://dawn-anothermother.blogspot.com/">Another Mother<br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-81681325662531899372010-02-16T02:56:00.002-12:002010-02-16T02:57:05.715-12:00if you are so inclined...My new blog which focuses totally on being a new mom...if that's not your bag then good riddance :)<br /><br /><a href="http://another-mother.tumblr.com/">http://another-mother.tumblr.com/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-90716429529905105372010-01-04T06:46:00.002-12:002010-01-04T06:47:48.029-12:00Moving on...I've lost complete interest in this blog. I'm not sure if it's Blogger, me, or just my life at home at the moment. So for now I'll be signing off and if I decide to come back I'll probably move to another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggy</span> type space but for now...adios and happy new year.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-78605000125134490552009-12-21T06:34:00.001-12:002009-12-21T06:34:33.202-12:00...and wow<embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1137883380" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=17075685001&playerId=1137883380&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-68272747587290923022009-12-17T06:49:00.004-12:002009-12-17T06:58:49.006-12:00Merry ChristmasWe will be celebrating both Christmas and New Year's Eve at the beach this year so I wanted to take the time to say <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Merry</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Christmas</span> and<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> Happy New Year</span> to everyone reading this. May your 2010 be filled with joy, love, and warm hugs.<br /><br />(photo credit: <a href="http://rhubarbwhine.wordpress.com/2008/12/">Rhubarb Whine</a>)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7btF8AOxN9Ffr7DhtyUtmr852ZoiTmsoJZ4AnGGjlWhO5NFSAtYvo7MppkEchRX6Rnm85pZuq1PvyqzRaOmLdh1bLpJUeYZ5_4MNS2KGGnl5sAmapSiotVIku83GCggmpUmuvUA/s1600-h/christmas_at_the_beach-_best_for_web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7btF8AOxN9Ffr7DhtyUtmr852ZoiTmsoJZ4AnGGjlWhO5NFSAtYvo7MppkEchRX6Rnm85pZuq1PvyqzRaOmLdh1bLpJUeYZ5_4MNS2KGGnl5sAmapSiotVIku83GCggmpUmuvUA/s320/christmas_at_the_beach-_best_for_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416279536990297746" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-73175421127540357532009-12-16T07:27:00.000-12:002009-12-16T07:28:39.172-12:00Love it, want it, don't you?<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pictorial-Websters-Visual-Dictionary-Curiosities/dp/0811867188/ref=reg_hu-wl_item-added">Pictorial-Websters-Visual-Dictionary-Curiosities</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-18068478513267064222009-12-09T06:29:00.002-12:002009-12-09T06:36:18.348-12:0019 Months oldI know this post should come with pictures but alas I'm too lazy to upload them and put them on. I cannot believe that toddler G is exactly 19 months old today, that's closer to 2 than 1 you do realize!<br /><br />She's the love of my life, which I think I've said here before. People always say that she looks just like me but I don't see it. I do see a lot of myself in her...for example it takes a lot, A LOT, I mean a hell of a lot of work to make me laugh and toddler G is the same way. She can't stand to be loved on in the morning, nor can I. She can seem indifferent as do I a lot of the time...really I'm just not saying what I'm thinking or feeling. My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OCD</span> is running through her veins too, she only plays with balls of a certain color each time she plays with them...she also has this routine of touching and kissing the railings by her room pretty much every time we go upstairs...it's nuts as am I!<br /><br />Two super cute things she is doing right now is that when she's upset or sleepy she'll take your hand and take you up to her room and stand in front of the rocking chair so that she can be rocked to sleep. When upset, if picked up she pats your arm or back as you are patting hers. I bet a ton of kids do that but it's so sweet. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GRRRR</span> I just wanna eat her face off!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-89049764113022572902009-12-04T06:32:00.001-12:002009-12-04T06:35:02.551-12:00Um, yeah<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0980140676?ie=UTF8&tag=dooce-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0980140676">The Mormom Kama Sutra</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-38806818645856973982009-12-01T07:21:00.002-12:002009-12-01T07:23:11.438-12:00Thankful for...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_HzjqbgrbNnUGrLx8qrAbc-Ly4kWUHjxcqGixYjDqAtj6R4W5E9iOJ1jf7xHoc0kM7Kn4bN17b34Gay0-7mbJnmCWrHya6SpWSDWUUxUYQkXvJDZSohrMuDvLy0B-1nZ77lw9g/s1600/November+2009+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_HzjqbgrbNnUGrLx8qrAbc-Ly4kWUHjxcqGixYjDqAtj6R4W5E9iOJ1jf7xHoc0kM7Kn4bN17b34Gay0-7mbJnmCWrHya6SpWSDWUUxUYQkXvJDZSohrMuDvLy0B-1nZ77lw9g/s320/November+2009+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410350376946862882" border="0" /></a>...a PopPopAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-55015991271563448232009-11-30T15:34:00.002-12:002009-11-30T15:35:36.497-12:00All I Want for Christmas....<span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34896975">...are these...</a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">size 8 please</span><br /><br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-76195204337098667542009-11-24T06:16:00.002-12:002009-11-24T06:22:03.368-12:00Thankful for...* a sleeping little girl<br /><br />* friends who take her during the day to allow me to run errands or just be<br /><br />* a partner in crime who usually plays bad cop<br /><br />* the opportunity to stay at home with toddler G and bear witness to her changes, firsthand<br /><br />* someone to rub my back, feet, or head when I am feeling low<br /><br />* the option to go to bed at 9:30 when I'm exhausted<br /><br />* the loveliness of naps during the day with a sleepy cuddly toddler<br /><br />* this time, between 12-2 everyday when she sleeps and I can eat lunch while catching up on DVR'd shows, catch up on blogs, or just sit nearby allowing my feet to share her blanket while reading a bookAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-7750740071514396692009-11-11T05:20:00.003-12:002009-11-11T05:24:06.986-12:00TodayI just got off the phone with my best friend Blair. We've been friends for years and I'd say he knows nearly everything about me. He lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter who he gave my middle name. I miss him desperately but never really realize it until I speak with him on the phone. Today was especially hard because we were talking about our children and how he has never met toddler G and how it breaks his heart. I never realize how much I miss because I get to talk to him so rarely but today for some reason it really hit me...hard enough that I had to hang up because I was welling up. Someday soon I hope that we live in the same city again and can eat his delicious pasta with chicken and black beans while watching our daughters just be. That his daughter who will be turning 7 in January can teach G some things about life. Someday soon I hope that there isn't a three hour time difference in our days.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-51046389926374568222009-11-09T06:07:00.002-12:002009-11-09T06:14:34.350-12:00BusyThings around here are finally beginning to feel like they are running smoothly. Toddler G now will lead us upstairs when she is ready to go to bed although we still rock her and she usually wakes up once a night it's still a big positive change.<br /><br />She also takes one long nap now which is great for me. I can get a few things on my never ending to do list completed and not feel guilty for not entertaining her. She's almost a month into swimming lessons and she seems to be enjoying them. Amelia has seen a big change in her during bath time so that says something right there. I also started her in an open gym/gymnastics type of class today which was pretty interesting. She had fun but boy was I tired at the end of that class. She walked on a balance beam, rolled down a foam wedge, jumped on a mini trampoline, and played with a parachute all for the first time today. Her favorite was certainly the parachute. All of the kids sat in the middle while the parents ran around and got them twisting! Her favorite was when we made a mushroom and the kids all ran around underneath...it was a good time. <br /><br />Otherwise not much is going on. I'm still job hunting and Amelia is still working like crazy. She hasn't had to stay over out of town yet but she has had some pretty late nights...I'd rather her just stay somewhere instead of having no idea when she might arrive home. It's exhausting all of it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-79589686790229203812009-10-25T08:02:00.003-12:002009-10-25T08:15:25.308-12:00Boo on Binns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dEFN8rThetxku-UQQ8Kr8yahUN7E2yFLEx1gjUeeaRvbkGuwOjQvJAM7yrv0IWLdGo_K7nWIV5PTKaNdyCLHCUORucURjkRj0pPjAHaOq2klbD9K7hFqBWdDkNCwkLFvG39WBA/s1600-h/Boo+on+Binns+10-25-2009+049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dEFN8rThetxku-UQQ8Kr8yahUN7E2yFLEx1gjUeeaRvbkGuwOjQvJAM7yrv0IWLdGo_K7nWIV5PTKaNdyCLHCUORucURjkRj0pPjAHaOq2klbD9K7hFqBWdDkNCwkLFvG39WBA/s320/Boo+on+Binns+10-25-2009+049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396633698754236738" border="0" /></a>Today was the 2nd annual Halloween party in our neighborhood. We were very excited to attend and toddler G got to wear her first costume...the tooth fairy complete with tooth headband, bag for holding teeth, and wings. It was great. She was so cute that she won 1st prize in the kids 0-3 contest! Congrats G! Oh and my favorite part was the iron on letters for her shirtsleeves that read 1-800-Got Teeth!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-47396956115197105652009-10-21T06:35:00.002-12:002009-10-21T06:45:37.768-12:00BrrrrFall has settled in around the abode. You can always tell because the blankets are no longer tucked nicely under the chair in their basket and stray socks are on the coffee table, under the coffee table, tucked into abandoned shoes, and found under just about every piece of furniture in the house. Although this fall has seemed much more like winter than usual. We've turned the heat on and then off and then back on again. We've worn sweat shirts and replaced them with long sleeve tees and then replaced those with our actual coats. It's nuts!<br /><br />We are back into the swing of choosing our meals for the week and shopping for those things instead of random bits that we can never make anything out of. Tonight it's breaded pork and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mozzarella</span> stacks with garlic broccoli...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> not a fan of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cooked broccoli</span> but we'll try it out. Tomorrow night it's pizza out at a friends who just brought another baby girl home from the hospital.<br /><br />In other news I've gotten quite bored with sitting around the house, going to the park, and playing in the backyard so I've signed G up for a couple of classes, one of which starts tomorrow. She will be taking swimming lessons and I've signed her up for a sort of open gym/directed (as much as toddlers can be directed) play time...it's cute and called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Jumpin</span>' Jellybeans...I'm sure she'll love it. I was motivated to sign her up so that we wouldn't be stuck inside every damn time it snowed this year and from what I hear it's gonna snow!!! I also purchased a membership for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">COSI</span> the science center here in Columbus so we'll have quite a few places to go and burn off some energy this winter. So we're ready...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! I am so ready!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-61223316063988502202009-10-04T14:46:00.004-12:002009-10-04T15:16:52.949-12:00I've been wanting to post......but something is always keeping me from it. A crying toddler, dinner to be made, a diaper to be changed, a shower to be taken, shaving of the legs, etc...but mostly it's because I've been lazy...and tired. In fact I am tired right now. But here I am wanting to say what we've been up to. Alas, it's been too long and I've forgotten most of it.<br /><br />But here we go.<br />1. We were visited by a very good friend of mine (J) and her adorable daughter (S) who live in France. J is American but married herself a Frenchman so now she's living there and I am so very jealous. Her daughter S is close enough to toddler G's age that they seemed slightly interested in each other at times. We had a wonderful time reminiscing and eating the amazing crepes that she brought for us. It was super fun having two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">some one's</span> in the house that I could speak rusty French to (especially the toddler who didn't know any better!). While alone with S I pointed to every item in the house that I knew the French word for and said it to her, she just looked at me like I was nuts...but I enjoyed every minute of it. My camera was doing funky things but here's a picture of the two girls. Oh and J&S brought toddler G a beret, so cute...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">oui</span>? They are both showing me that they know where their heads are.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENThmhKzWRXWf5Ka8wgox_nJ2H2y20vc1AhBkrbn4KWu5Qp5D3O5E_6lQFlxp6pUuLjn69GglrzeGi-gd9G7npAyfWzmw5qdPf68qp2y6Lz_qNLhhM6RtsGpBzm-74o4t75avUA/s1600-h/Sophie,+Georgia+and+Camp+Crowell-Hilaka+as+of+Sept.+27,+2009+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENThmhKzWRXWf5Ka8wgox_nJ2H2y20vc1AhBkrbn4KWu5Qp5D3O5E_6lQFlxp6pUuLjn69GglrzeGi-gd9G7npAyfWzmw5qdPf68qp2y6Lz_qNLhhM6RtsGpBzm-74o4t75avUA/s320/Sophie,+Georgia+and+Camp+Crowell-Hilaka+as+of+Sept.+27,+2009+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388943185383473314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2. I visited the camp that I worked at in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Richfield</span>, OH for a day...a long, rainy, dreary, heart breaking day. I got to see some wonderful women that I am quite fond of and catch up with campers that I haven't seen well since they were little girls. It was amazing to see them as bright and successful young women. It's much too long of a story to post here about what is happening with the camp but let's just say that it's being run by morons and they are allowing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">civilization</span> to creep in and take over. I am utterly speechless about the entire thing but I was happy to be able to say goodbye to places that meant so much to me. The boat house where I slept under the stars for the first time, the pool where I took my swimming test to go white water rafting, the tent unit where I spilled so many secrets, the barn where I had my first sighting of actual death, the camp itself was my world for many summers and I'll be sad if it disappears but happy that I was able to be a part of its history for so many others and their memories of what made it what it was. As I said above my camera was acting up and it was pouring but here's one of the tent site that we hung out in...Far Away Pines<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CRDDgANdUs52iDbhxnzahQ6oG46oqTgx2OsqgtPJqfQfdYIx8QruOMThbJ2Uy24m2C7Uo4mNI6prG3bpln9-oz9gbVu_UUnC5rS7o-UkGs0v9b6KRTPDorHFl0POvIUTujrQdA/s1600-h/Sophie,+Georgia+and+Camp+Crowell-Hilaka+as+of+Sept.+27,+2009+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CRDDgANdUs52iDbhxnzahQ6oG46oqTgx2OsqgtPJqfQfdYIx8QruOMThbJ2Uy24m2C7Uo4mNI6prG3bpln9-oz9gbVu_UUnC5rS7o-UkGs0v9b6KRTPDorHFl0POvIUTujrQdA/s320/Sophie,+Georgia+and+Camp+Crowell-Hilaka+as+of+Sept.+27,+2009+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388945512790518722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />3. And I guess the final big piece of news is that my family was finally able to go bury my father's ashes in West Virginia with the rest of his family. My mom and two sisters went but I decided not to go. It was a combination of having spent the previous day in pouring rain, the thought of driving 4 hours by myself with toddler G, and the fact that I could have cared less that kept me away. The good part of the whole thing is that my sister, Joann, who hadn't yet seen toddler G or our house got a chance to do that during her trip. The other good part...the bastard is gone, no longer living in a drawer in my guest room. I am so happy to be free of all of it. In fact I'd be happy if no one ever brought up my father to me again. <br /><br />Needless to say, it was quite a month!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-70162387119462655102009-09-21T14:17:00.002-12:002009-09-21T14:21:03.348-12:00LettersSo I've talked about the letters that I write to toddler G on here a few times. Since then I've gotten about 8 or 9 emails from people asking about these letters. Do I just do bullet points with all she's achieved or do I write directly to her. Is it all gushy or sort of business like. So I've decided to share the most recent one with you on here. This will not be a regular thing. What I do is type them to her in my gmail acct. and then save them into a folder on there. Once I have a few written I hand write them into a journal.<br /><br />Here's the most recent letter, she is just over 16 months old. It's a little long because I hadn't written one in awhile.<br /><br />Georgia,<br /><br />I am a terrible person. I haven't written you a letter since July!!! I have a really good excuse though...I finished my graduate program in that time so instead of writing these letters to you I spent my time with you. Taking you to classes at COSI, the zoo, the mall to play on the planets (see pics.), and on play dates.<br /> <br />You are such a big girl now. I can't even call you baby buggy anymore because now you are a toddler who doesn't toddle. You walk, you run, you climb on everything in sight. You are amazingly brave. We've found you so many times standing on the dining room table, the computer desk, or the coffee table. You climb into the hammock out back and just wait for us to swing you as high as you can go. You also love it when we hold you upside down in the hammock and say in a high pitched voice 'upside-down'...you are crazy like that. So for that reason I call you Monkey or a shortened version, monks or even monk-a-lina. You seem to love it, you respond to it and it fits.<br /> <br />You are long and lean. I was worried about your weight for awhile but have been reassured by everyone that you are just fine. I guess i suspected that the weight issues in the Thompson family would haunt you as well but I think we've found a way to beat the system...it seems to be working. You were eating everything in sight but now you don't like many things. For awhile we could at least get you to eat chicken nuggets, blueberries, macaroni and cheese, or crackers but now it's all a hassle. You eat very little but seem to be doing fine but it makes me a bit crazy. You currently weigh a little over 23 lbs.<br /> <br />Your hair has started to come in, blond and thick with curls in the back. I suspect that you will have curly hair but that unlike mine it'll be beautiful. I will not pass on my hate of curly hair to you, I promise! In fact I think your hair will probably change that for me. Your hair is so cute it blows in the wind and you seem to sense every little movement of it. You are able to point to your hair which is also one of my favorite things about you. Your hair also has a little hint of red in it so I am dying to see what color it will turn out to be. My hair was blond when I was little so you'll probably end up with brown hair like me but it'll be fun to be a blond while it lasts. I cannot wait until it is long enough to put into pigtails!<br /> <br />Everyone compliments you on your eyes. Every time we meet someone new they say oh my god what big beautiful eyes. They are this sort of green/blue/gray color and like me they change to deeper or lighter shades when you cry, or are wearing something close to their color.<br /> <br />You are unbelievably brave and love danger (just like one of your shirts says). You love to climb onto the ledge of the picture window which makes me wonder what the neighbors think or the people driving by. You also climb the stairs now, lickety split. You are usually up them before we get around to try to keep you from climbing up by yourself. You've been thinking about trying down by yourself but you are, thankfully, not that brave yet!<br /> <br />You have the best facial expressions. You stare intently at something you are interested in. You squint at things (which makes me think you might need glasses), you do this laugh that is hilarious. You laugh like a ventriloquist's dummy ha-yah-yah-yah. It always makes people stop and laugh with you. You have very expressive eyebrows...this I know you got from me. You also do this funny thing with your eyes and tongue which I can't really explain but you squint your eyes, stick out your tongue, hunch your shoulders, and squeeze your hands into fists. It's as if you've just eaten something that was very sour. It's hilarious.<br /> <br />You still will only fall asleep when rocked. You insist on stroking my hair still which I am trying to break you of because now that you are stronger is actually really hurts...it's like you are pulling it and it is unbelievably painful. You are very sparse with your kisses and hugs but when you give them you give them with all of yourself. Wrapping your limbs around our necks or waists or arms, you hold on. You seem to understand that this melts our hearts so you look into our eyes each time waiting for that reaction of smiles or tears. I am in love with you little girl. You are mama's favorite thing ever.<br /> <br />You sometimes get unbelievably mad. Your temper seems out of control which must have come from the other side of the family because darling nothing gets me as worked up as you seem to get. I think you are probably very frustrated that you can't communicate with us but you like to screech and scream and even throw your body onto the ground. When you have these fits, your entire body is just dead weight and it's nearly impossible to comfort or console you in anyway except....JACK'S BIG MUSIC SHOW which is still your favorite show of all time. We have the first season's cd and play it over and over in the car. We have tons of episodes DVR'd just for these moments. Jack's also plays while I shower or cook dinner, it's come in handy! When you're mad you also throw things, big things, small things, hard things, food, it's crazy but it's kind of funny too.<br /> <br />You love books. You have tons and tons everywhere. In your room, in the living room, in our room and the bathroom. You love them. You will either pick one out and bring it to us to read to you or you'll take it with you onto the couch or into your red polka dot chair. But, you can't sit still long enough to get through them when we read to you. I find this very frustrating but am sure that soon enough you'll be asking to be read the same one over and over again.<br /> <br />You don't have a ton of words in your vocabulary yet. You say mama, go, and no. But you only really say Mama clearly. When you say no, you say it over and over again and like you are Russian! It comes out nyet, nyet, nyet. I love that. Since you don't have a ton of words you've developed this cute way of telling us what you want. You either point or hold you hand out, palm up, and curl your fingers inward in sort of a gimme gesture. We've gotten good, you usually get everything you need or want.<br /> <br />You are quite independent in your waking hours. You will escape the gated rooms if the gates have been left down. You will climb the stairs and you've even snuck out the front door without either of us nearby. You are crazy for animals....dogs especially. We went to the pound to look at dogs and you weren't afraid at all of the ones that barked at us from their cages. You will walk right up to any dog, any size and point at it or touch it. You are learning the word gentle but haven't yet learned to put it into action. You will put both hands on nearly every animal (especially Raven) and wait for it to acknowledge you. This scares me to death.<br /> <br />Your other favorite thing to do is swing at the park or in the backyard. You will swing the entire time, a couple of hours is the most you have gone when we've allowed you to stay that long. If there's no line you usually get to stay and swing. When it's time to go you cry, sob actually. You fight to get down out of our arms. The swings are your thing, monkey. I have been trying to teach you to pump your legs but you're much more interested in being pushed and looking around while I'm doing so.<br /> <br />You also seem to enjoy going to the grocery store or any store for that matter with us. You love these stores because of the long empty aisles. You could and sometimes do run up and down them until we grab you up and put you back in the buggy. You hate that.<br /><br />Another thing you love to do is close the refrigerator door. Anytime I open it you close it. Every morning you go straight to the fridge and wait for me to pour your milk. Once I do, you happily grab your cup, slam the fridge door shut, and leave the room. Content for about 5 minutes. Another thing you've learned to do is get out your own toothbrush and toothpaste. You can open the drawer, pull out what is yours, hand it to me, and close the drawer. It's amazing. I did not teach you that so how you learned I'm guessing by sheer observation.<br /><br />We've moved you down from two naps to one that usually starts around 1 in the afternoon. Sometimes I get lucky and you sleep for about 90 mins. but mostly it's your usual one hour. You still take your naps on the couch which I don't mind as much as I used to. It sort of forces me to do quiet things like sit down and read or watch something that has been on the DVR forever.<br /><br />What else, let's see...you have learned to walk backwards and sideways. When you aren't happy or satisfied or busy you grunt or growl at us to get our attention. You always say 'oh' which doesn't mean anything to me but it's cute. You've started calling us different names now. We both used to be mama but now I'm mama and Amelia is mom mom. You are crazy for water. If you see it you immediately want to be in it, touching it, feet first, hands first, head first it doesn't matter. This is why I am signing you up for swimming lessons next month. You've also recently starting sniffing and blowing your nose. You sniff everything you see. You seem to understand that flowers smell sweet so you always go for flowers...real or fake. My favorite thing that you do though is still the kissing everyone and everything you see. You will kiss them on the belly, arm, hand, whatever is available to you, it's super sweet.<br /><br />All in all I am madly in love with you, Georgia. Of course we have our days and nights but I wouldn't change it for the world. You make me smile and laugh more than I ever have. Some nights or afternoons when you are asleep I just want to hold you as tight as I can and keep you little. I am emotional about everything you do. My eyes well up just thinking of you sometimes too. You snuggle tightly with me at night and you insist on having a body part touching mine. A hand holding tightly onto my arm (even when you are sound asleep), a foot wrapped up in my hair, a hand down my shirt if we are in an unfamiliar place or with unfamiliar people. a head on my shoulder when you are super tired, you butt always finds my lap when you want to be held while reading or watching TV. Georgia you are wonderful. I love you.<br /><br />MamaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-92141766430171984412009-09-21T07:29:00.002-12:002009-09-21T07:33:05.371-12:00Fall is KnockingWe are having such odd weather here. For awhile now it's been nice enough to have the air off and windows open but the last two days have been super humid and sticky and I HATE THAT. <br /><br />It's especially rough on those of us with crazy curly hair. <br /><br />But what I really hate about it is how everything just has a sheen of wetness to it. The hardwood floors, the flowered chair, the blankets all feel wet...yuck! I am ready for this to be over but I've just heard that it's supposed to rain ALL EFFING WEEK! Fantastic, so looking forward to that :(<br /><br />Enjoy fall friends.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-10719257950016411582009-09-19T08:12:00.003-12:002009-09-20T03:27:45.717-12:00Julie & JuliaLast night I finished reading Julie & Julia. I should have known better. I had tried to read this book awhile back when it first came out, before all of the hoopla with the movie, etc...and I couldn't even get past the first chapter. But once all the hoopla did hit I decided to try again. Usually if I start a book and can't stand it I force myself to finish it, chalking it up to a learning experience. With Julie & Julia I couldn't even force myself to do that, in fact it was a turning point for me ever since my first attempt at reading it and giving up I've been able to put books down that I know I am going to eventually hate or that I just cannot get through...so thanks Julie.<br /><br />But on to the book. I hated it. I will say that it got much better, funnier, more realistic about halfway through. OK maybe hate is too strong of a word. I didn't hate it, I was just really disappointed. When I first heard about it, the book and the blog I thought DAMN what a fantastic idea...why didn't I think of that. I had high hopes, imagined hilarity ensuing on every page but what I really got was a woman who hates her job, hates everyone she works with, everyone she encounters, and everything it seems about her life except maybe her husband and crazy friends. She came off as arrogant and above it all. She never really told us why she was doing this, even when it seemed that she'd go crazy attempting to stick to her deadline. All in all I'm pissed that I wasted my time. I'm pissed that I really wanted to see the movie but now I could care less about seeing it. All in all I could have read better...and Julie if you read this, now that you have a big movie/book deal maybe you can give me my $16.00 bucks back.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-72152129012982219232009-09-17T06:00:00.003-12:002009-09-21T06:31:36.579-12:00TodayToday I had the first ever playgroup at my house. It was a rather impromptu thing but it was fine. I find <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">play dates</span> to be a way to sit around, let your kids run out all of their energy, and then crash into a, fingers crossed, two hour nap afterward. It's the best thing ever.<br /><br />This particular <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">play date</span> was rather interesting because two of the three women who came aren't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">exactly</span> friends of mine...we are always cordial. Yes I've known them for awhile but there have been dark clouds on the horizon and I was expecting quite a storm but alas I was wrong. It was fine, actually quite lovely. We had lots of sweets, nice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">conversation</span>, a few time outs, and a few falls but all in all it was fine. Certainly something to repeat in the upcoming weeks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-65041951747049393362009-09-14T05:02:00.002-12:002009-09-14T05:04:36.362-12:00Oh and....Toddler G has started doing the cutest thing. We have been trying to get her to call Amelia mommy and me mama without much luck. For awhile she had only been saying mama to me but then she started calling us both mama but now she calls me mama and Amelia mom mom which is so very sweet.<br /><br />I'm not certain where she got it from or if she is really deciphering between the two of us but she's figured it out and I love it.<br /><br />Now off to get her started on her MENSA test ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-39589798453939818292009-09-14T04:50:00.002-12:002009-09-14T05:02:05.770-12:00A fun filled weekend!This weekend we celebrated our friend's purchase of a new home in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Westerville</span> by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">attending</span> their house warming party. Only Toddler G and I went because Amelia wasn't feeling well...we had a great time! Toddler G was of course drawn to the water table where I let her play until she got soaked and it got dark and chilly. I was certain that everyone there was thinking what a terrible mom I was letting her get so wet on such a cold night but she was having such a great time that I couldn't drag her away. Luckily the son of the homeowner who is a few months younger than her came over and played too, so I didn't feel so bad about it after that.<br /><br />Ironically the friend who bought the house is a professor at the college, in the same department, that I got my undergraduate degree from, so there were a few professors there that I recognized and spoke with...good times.<br /><br />Yesterday we all went apple picking at the <a href="http://www.ohioapples.com/">Granville Orchards</a> for a friend's birthday. Toddler G had an amazing time. She ate both green and red apples right off the trees and ran around enjoying the wide open space. It was a lot of fun to watch her roam from tree to tree, smelling all the flowers, and not worrying about cars or animals or any other ways for her to get hurt. The only concern we had was the pond, which of course she immediately spotted and went for. Which is why today I am on the hunt for swimming classes for her. She is drawn to water, always wants to touch the water when the faucet is on, always wants to get into the sink when brushing her teeth. She loves it. <br /><br />In fact last night she fell into the bathtub while we were filling it up for her bath. She didn't get hurt but it scared her. <br /><br />Oh well, off to search for swimming lessons. Enjoy your week everyone.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-27170286569572300382009-09-09T15:20:00.002-12:002009-09-09T15:28:15.918-12:00Two SongsI love these two songs, they were both performed on So You Think You Can Dance which is one of my favorite summer shows...I can't get enough of either, enjoy!<br /><br />All I Want---Ahn Trio<br />(ignore the first few seconds of pixelation (SP)!!) <br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R1kD3akVtZ0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R1kD3akVtZ0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />If It Kills Me---Jason Mraz<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ys9-kUdCOac&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ys9-kUdCOac&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-39822306941057653602009-09-09T05:07:00.003-12:002009-09-09T05:17:16.515-12:00ParentingThis parenting thing is quite new to me. Even though toddler G has been around now for exactly 16 months today it still feels surreal. For instance Amelia and I are the two people who are currently influencing her behaviors, what she's learning, what she's exposed to, blah, blah, blah...<br /><br />And the most recent issue that has cropped up is what to do with her at a funeral. Not necessarily with her...specifically if there is an open casket at said funeral. I for one am always a bit iffy about going up to the casket and this is as an adult, so what could it do to a child? Of course I know that she is much too small to really be affected(effected, I never know) by this but still it pops into your mind what should you do? Even imagining myself holding her while standing there makes my stomach hurt. <br /><br />In the end I told Amelia who will be attending by herself tomorrow that I'd like toddler G to not go up to the casket if it is open. I don't know if this is the right decision but it's one that I feel the best about and this situation hadn't even crossed my mind when considering all of the learning opportunities that toddler G would be exposed to, but I'm glad that it occurred to me before Amelia was there alone, having a hard time herself, and not knowing what I thought about the whole situation.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34711057.post-28876005583890668172009-09-07T14:26:00.002-12:002009-09-07T14:37:01.995-12:00HandwrittenSo I write these letters to toddler G. Letters that I attempt to write once a month but seem to really only get written every other to every three months. They are my way of keeping up with what she's learned to do, what she has grown out of, and how she is making me feel. Once I type the letter in an email to myself I then hand write it in a cute brown journal with buttons on the cover that I love. I've nearly filled it to the 3/4 mark but am making little progress at the moment. <br /><br />It must be because our days fly by or because she is such a handful or because I know that the sooner I write it down the sooner she'll stop being my little baby. I know that as soon as I write the words, she has learned to walk backwards and sometimes walks right into a wall that she'll never do it again. That as soon as I write she loves to blow spit bubbles and watch me blow them back that she'll grow out of it. I know that as soon as I write she loves to lay down in the back tub on her belly or walk as fast as she can from the front of the tub to the back (which scares me to death) that she'll just sit there and do nothing. I'm so afraid to break the silence I've built within myself, taking it all in, watching everything she does, breathing in her smell, tasting the skin on her knees when she falls down and I kiss her uh-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">oh's</span>, that she's taken to tangling her fingers in my hair or shirt to fall asleep, reveling in the fact that she wants to sleep against me...face pressed into my chest all night long, that she wants to scoot into my lap as far as she can and lay her head on my chest while she watches her favorite show 'Jack's Big Music Show' that I just can't write it in a letter. I'll just keep it to myself, allow my eyes, ears, mouth, and fingers to enjoy these days before she wants to borrow the car or talk about kissing boys/girls...for now she's sweet. <br /><br />Sickeningly sweet and I can't wait for her to wake up to do it all again tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08021634487461293299noreply@blogger.com2