Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Haircuts and Ice Cream


Bribing my child was just about the only way to get the haircut finished. After 30 minutes of being strapped to his booster seat while watching Little Einsteins was all he could bear. I chopped as fast as I could (a little hair then a little finger - ouch). He began his little "all done chant" that I often hear usually at the end of a meal. It goes something like this... "All done, all done, all DONE, DONE, DONE!!!" (Repeat over and over in ever-increasing volume.) So I promised him an ice cream cone and it worked like a charm. Mission completion!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Better Then Yesterday

Shall I start with today or yesterday? Yesterday was a challenge, today a reprieve. Perhaps I should start with last weekend... yes, that's where I'll start. Tim has been working wild hours this entire week starting last Sunday. Leaving at 4 o'clock in the morning and returning just in time to scarf down some food and go to bed. Needless to say, we are sleeping apart (I'm in our spare room) and that's a good thing. The mad-woman in me gets aroused when I'm woken in the middle of the night, and I wake up to just about anything including the rustling of the sheets. That's why I like jersey knit - they are basically noiseless sheets. Needless to say, I miss my husband: his company, his help and his presence in our home.

This week probably would have been no big deal if I wasn't 11 weeks pregnant, narcotically tired, sick to my stomach most, and a mother of a very active toddler boy who would prefer to use me as a trampoline rather than a cushion. Not to mention that I am a highly social person and the lack of adult interaction seems like a form of torture for me. The week was like a lessen in self-control as I had to cook, clean, play with my son, attempt to run a business (this part has not gone very well at all) and hold up the fort despite the way I am feeling physically. The only thing I didn't do was clean the cat litter for which I have a very legitimate excuse. And thankfully I maintained some level of patience with my son who was getting bored and a bit stir crazy. I think he was climbing just about everything in the house and trying to ride the cat like a horse. As the week progressed, I began to break down. Let's see...Subway sub, McDonald's salad, then chicken parm from the local italian restaurant. Samuel's diapers weren't changed quite as frequently and the dishes were beginning to pile. The only thing that got me to do them was the fear of smelling them with my super duper pregnant olfactory system the next morning. That would be tragic.

Friday (we are finally at yesterday) was the breaking point when Tim told me he'd be home a few hours later than planned. He might as well said that he wouldn't be home for another year. All those hormones came rushing to the surface. Self-control break-down occurred as I wept on the phone. Samuel stood staring blankly at me then cracked a nervous "what's wrong with mommy" smile. I hung up, sat on the floor and cried and cried and cried. Jesus cried tears of blood, well I'm sure I was crying tears of estrogen! I was so glad to finally close my eyes at the end of the day in our bed since Tim would be home the next morning!

This morning I woke to Samuel's chipper morning sounds in the monitor. I'm pretty sure he was singing Happy Birthday to some inanimate object in his room. I looked over and there was my husband in bed with me! We all cuddled in bed for awhile while Samuel read the numbers on the digital clock for 20 minutes, Tim graciously cooked breakfast and we headed out to catch a sale at the mall. Samuel was so happy to have mommy and daddy together and I was so happy to be a family. It was a great day! Unfortunately Tim had to work this evening again. Ughhh... dinner alone again and what am I going to make? The all too familiar dread (nausea) came over me but there is a happy ending. Jennifer called right before dinner time and came over with fresh bread, soup and dessert (thank you Andrea!!!) It was so delicious and it really hit the spot! She was my hero for the day. I'm sure it was God's way of letting me know that he really does hear us when we cry out (even if it is tears of estrogen). Overall, today was much better than yesterday!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Friday, October 12, 2007

For all of you who think Samuel is a spitting image of his father



I actually did this two times. First this picture of Samuel at 2 years old, then I did one with a picture when he was about 12 months. The one at 12 months said he looked more like Tim by 39%. So I guess I'm happy to say he is looking more like me as he grows older. Maybe we'll try again in another year.

Thanks for the fun Gina!

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Picking Pumpkins





We decided to go pumpkin picking at Stokoe Farm in Scottsville on Sunday. The weather is unseasonable warm so fall wasn't quite in the air yet. But none the less, we had a great day. Samuel enjoyed picking rocks just as much as he enjoyed picking the pumpkins!

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Funhouse Photos






So we got a new computer - an imac. We are really moving up in the world. There's something in me that just doesn't want to keep up with the pace of technology these days, yet my husband is fast on track. So now I am an owner of this incredible computer and an ipod came along with it. I've had the ipod for about a month and haven't used it once. Hmmm...

Anyway, I thought you'd laugh at these funny pictures we were able to take with our new computer.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

We survived Long Island





We made our annual trip to Long Island last week. We packed the mini van (yes, we have a mini van and we only have one child) full of every possible thing you could imagine: luggage, food, toys, laptop and more. It's trips like this that make me realize how much I LOVE that Ford Windstar. I actually swore that I would NEVER drive a minivan and now it is my best friend. I really do love that car despite the strange odor that I can't seem to remove, all of Samuel's crumbs on the floor and that annoying vibration in the floor that just doesn't go away no matter what speed you drive. It's like driving a small room around town.

We stayed in a really posh hotel with a suite and all those fine amenities. Samuel's favorite part was counting the numbers on the elevator as we went up to the fourth floor. We visited my Mom and George, for a few days then we visited my Dad and Lorraine. Samuel got his fix of cousins, aunts & uncles and grandparents to last him awhile. I think he might have picked up that Long Island accent too! Just kidding...

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

I forgot how hard this is



For some reason I just don't remember being this sick with Samuel. It's a good thing us women have some degree of memory loss when it comes to having babies or we'd never do it again. I guess I'm just not one of those happy, glowing pregnant women. In fact, I'm sure Tim is sick of seeing my butt on the couch and a scowl on my face every evening when he comes in the door. And poor Samuel, well let's just say he's watching a bit more TV than usual. For those of you who know me well, I thought you's appreciate the following pictures of my house. It's called the first trimester siesta! No cleaning for me!