My Dream Come True!!!

Remember the ugly day I just blogged about. Well, this is what Gabrielle did for the FIRST time while chilling out in her bouncer over dinner that evening! There is a God!!!

An ugly kind of day

Woke up, used bathroom, flushed. Heard running water 5 minutes later. Toilet has been overflowing since. Water ALL over bathroom, under cabinet and washing machine. Spent a 1/2 hour cleaning it up. DIDN'T eat breakfast. Put baby down for a nap only to have her WOKEN up after 10 minutes. Had an appointment at my house, met with woman in my SWEATS with my make up from yesterday still under my eyes. Put baby down for another nap - DIDN'T sleep. Made lunch for Samuel. Put him down for a nap. Nursed baby - she fell asleep. Kicking on wall from boy who won't go to sleep WOKE the baby again! Now neither of my children are sleeping and I'm still in my sweats with make up under my eyes.

I think I'll take another splash of tuna please!

UPDATE: Went for a LONG drive. Kiddos passed out in 5 minutes. I ate fast food. Good news: sanity restored. Bad news: tummy ache!

And a splash of tuna!

Got up, dropped Samuel at a friends house, ate breakfast AT the table, showered AND shaved, applied make-up AND product to my hair, hung out with my hubby, did laundry AND put it away, picked Samuel up, put both kids down for a nap at the SAME time, splashed some tuna juice all over myself while making lunch. I'm NOT taking another shower.

Blog Lift

Confession: I am blogging challenged!!!

Yes my friends, it's a frightful disorder but have no fear, my friend Amanda is here! She came to my rescue one sunny afternoon. We put the kids down for a nap and busted out the laptop. She taught me about gadgets and widgets, subscribing and all sorts of great blogging stuff. I truly feel enlightened now.

I mentioned to her that I wanted to spice up the old blog. You know, give it a little nip and tuck. Well, she just couldn't resist. She performed a full blog lift! Isn't it lovely?

Once again - I thank you Amanda, my most creative and generous friend! You're the best pseudo stay at home mom in the world!!!

I don't want to be THAT mother.

How many of you have been through this scenario or one similar?

So your walking somewhere in public. In my case it was a busy street just after a parade.

It's just you and the 2 kiddos. Baby is sleeping (or crying in my case) in the stroller. Your 3 year old is having a minor melt-down for whatever reason that may be. In my case from parade over-stimulation, no nap and a pound of kettle corn in the belly. He decides that he will walk no further and in protest goes limp and lays in the middle of the sidewalk whining.

You have just become THAT mother.

You know, the one passer-byers gawk at as they wonder why you can't control your kid. Yes, THAT one.

So you pick up your limp child under you arm like a pro-wrestler and you begin to push the stroller with the other. You put the "I have everything under control" smile on for your audience as you bee line for your car. Problem is you can't seem to keep the stroller straight with one hand so you accidentally bump into one of those gawkers. You say sorry but really your not.

In my case, a sweet angel of a woman stopped and asked me where my car was (it was about a 1/4 mile away). She then whipped Samuel out of my arms and carried him all the way to my car while happily chatting with me. She was a grandmother of 12 and I'm certain she was also an angel!

So what do I do when an angel doesn't come to my rescue? Do I want one of these? You tell me!

BabyTrend sit & stand stroller.
(Older child can sit on a platform or stand on the back)
And would you get the single or the double?
(The seat in the back folds up so older child can either sit or stand)

Chicken "Not So" Little Needs A Home!

According to yesterday's comments, y'all like my cat.
(She is rather photogenic, isn't she?)


And many of you seem like the kind hearted, nurturing, be nice to animals types. So let me pull on your heart strings for a moment.

Chicken "Not So" Little needs a home!

Yes, our sweet and rather plump kitty is not happy. She was pampered, played with and got lots of good ole kitty cat lovin' until Samuel arrived and wrecked her world. After a few months and some animal therapy (just kidding), she adjusted to her new place in the family. She and Samuel eventually became buddies.


Life was good again until that dreaded day when the stork dropped Gabrielle on our doorstep. Chicken once again had her world turned upside down.

She gets fed but not necessarily when she wants. We forget to give her her kitty cat laxative (this is important when you are 11 years old). She can't find a lap to sit on because who has time to sit in this household? And Samuel thinks she likes pillow fights and leap frog. Not her idea of fun as evidenced by the hissing and scratching.

She's plainly unhappy! And we must find a home before someone gets hurt - either the cat or my son. Do any of you know of a person/family without children that could give her a home?

Oh, please say yes, please!!!

WWWAT: A Different View



Click on the link above to find out more about WWWAT.
You too can join in on the fun!!!

FRUIT LOOP - OUR FISH
CHICKEN - OUR CAT

Bathtime & Bows

Have I mentioned that I love having a girl. Every morning when Gabrielle wakes up she gives me the sweetest smile and coos with this little angelic voice. She's so happy to see me first thing in the morning and I her. Her blond hair and blue eyes still get me every time I look at her. She's delicate yet decided. She is quite particular in her ways. She likes to see the world standing not sitting. And when she's tired, she gets punchy. She'd rather be held by mommy first, daddy second and you might be lucky to come in third. She's all girl and she's all mine!

Just like her ultrasound.



Bath time beauty!

My budding photographer!

Samuel here, blogging with mommy's help. Since there's a whole lotta buzz going on about cameras and photography these days. I thought I'd show off my talent. After you see these works of art you'll certainly want a Fisher Price, 1.3 mega pixel camera.

The Toy Series

Self Portraits

You've gotta try this...

Tim was in his glory this past week. I started cooking again! This recipe is a new one for me and it was absolutely delicious!!! The combo worked great together. OK, so I'll toot my own horn - Tim said the meal was restaurant quality. Wow! So really, you have to try it!

Barley Vegetable Medley

1 cup dry barley
olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
16 oz. frozen corn
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 carrots, shredded
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt & pepper to taste
1 large tomato, chopped

Cook barley according to package directions. Set aside. In a large skillet, coated with olive oil, saute onions until tender. Add the remaining ingredients except tomatoes. Saute until crisp tender. Add olive oil as needed. Stir in Barley and tomatoes and cook about 1 minute or until heated through.


Slow Cooked
Savory Barbecued Ribs

3 lbs boneless pork spare ribs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp hickory smoked salt (I used regular salt)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup cola
1 1/4 cups barbecue sauce
(I used Wegman's Memphis Style)

Spray inside of a 4 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix brown sugar, salt and pepper; rub mixture into ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker and pour cola around the ribs. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours. Half-way through cooking, pour barbecue sauce over ribs.

Home Sweet Home!!

Where will home be? Baltimore? Minneapolis? Staying here? The next big step in our lives has been choosing a location for Tim to do his post-doctoral work. I've been sitting in limbo for, oh, almost a year now as Tim's been interviewing and deciding. I, being totally out of character, have left the decision up to him. I decided to be a trusting wife instead of a control freak. I know he has had our best interest in mind. Well, the decision has been made and the position has been formally accepted so I am now able to tell you all that we are staying!!! You should see the smile on my face!!!

My Personality...

Do you know me like this?

or like this?

I took a personality quiz, which of course I thought was foolish while entering my answers and surprisingly it turned out right on the money!!!

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?