Childhood and Stuff Like That

Dear Friends,

The other day in the Washington Post style section there was a HUGE article on the front page revolving around one of the best series of books ever written, The Babysitters Club. Now I know that most of you reading this are around the same age as I am, so if you tell me that you never read any of these I am totally NOT going to believe you. I think it was mandatory reading for every girl growing up in the 80s and 90s. I have saved all of my BSC books. They are now located in Lexy's room, in order might I add. I'm missing a few and would love love love to complete my collection. I will freely admit that on certain nights, when the day has been long and my brain is a bit fuzzy, I grab one and slip into a nice hot bubble bath and take myself back to my childhood. The BSC isn't the only childhood books that I reread. I go back and read my Mary Higgins Clark books over and over as well. The stand up as more than just 80s fluff.

One of the reasons I was thrilled to have a daughter was so that I could show all of those 80s icons. Lexy already has one of my Cabbage Patch Kids (and one of her own). I plan on giving her the My Little Ponies that I have packed away in the attic in a few years, too. I think I had about 30 Cabbage Patch Kids and at least 75 My Little Ponies and their stables and accessories. I hope Lexy is going to be into baby dolls and ponies because I shouldn't have to buy her any toys the year she's 5. Oh, and does anyone know if Jem is out on DVD yet so I can get that for her, too?

The one thing that depressed me about the article in the Post is that they plan on reissuing the books with changes to the more 80s style aspects. They're changing the clothing descriptions. I mean, really, how can you change the clothing descriptions? The hair clips, frizzy perms, the high bangs, the leggings and big sweaters. Seriously, Claudia Kishi and Stacy McGill were my style icons. Of course, I never knew where to buy clothes like they wore so I never wore anything remotely resembling anything described in the books, but I still wanted to. And they're taking out the Diabetes shots that Stacy had to take. Really? I know that there are progressions in medicine for the 21st century, but come on. These are books in and of the 80s. Leave it alone! I love my biking everywhere, 11 year olds being able to babysit, 6 girls getting together between 5:30 and 6:00 MWF in one room to be girls. And to take that away? No thanks! It's like taking the Smurfs and making them purple. Nobody wants a purple Smurf. Who has ever heard of a purple Smurf.

Leave the 80's alone. The music was awesome, the clothes rocked, the hair was big (except for mine. Mine doesn't do big even with Glue), the people were nice and safe. What's wrong with that?

Thursday Thankfulness

Dear Friends,

I'm drafting this Wednesday night and it's been a bit stressful of an afternoon/evening so I'm hoping that this post provides for a little bit of centering and attitude adjustment.

This is the day that the pacifier has gone "bye-bye". I never thought I would let any child of mine reach 2 years while still having a pacifier, but here I am at 2 years 3 months... but, there she is in her crib with her stuffed animals and her night light on. No pacifier. And for at least the first 20 minutes of the night, no tears. The child continues to amaze me in her reactions to things. Bumblebees and ants cause massive freak outs, but take away the pacifier she loves and asks for at nap time and bedtime with only a little bit of discussion and she is good to go. So far. We'll see how the rest of the night goes and nap time tomorrow. That one I'm so not looking forward to.

So for my Thursday Thankfulness I choose to be most thankful that my little baby girl, the one I still call "Baby" is being a big girl. I am thankful that she did well enough when she was in the NICU to get that swallow reflex down with enough mastery to use a pacifier for 2 years. I am thankful that she is smart enough to understand the things that I explain to her, like the pacifier going away but that she won't be alone because she has her softies and her mommy outside her door. I am thankful that while she's not asleep 30 minutes after she was put to bed, she's being quiet and lying in her crib talking with her animals and being generally good. I am thankful that she continues to surprise me everyday with the things she learns and the things she says.

I have to say that this little bit of thankfulness is making me a little sad. The pacifier seems like a connection to that part of the baby that is left in my toddler. It's hard for me to think that she's grown up enough that she doesn't need it, that she's actually old enough to be getting rid of it. Where did the last 2 years go? How is it possible that 27 months can go by so fast. How is it possible that I can't slow time down or stop it for just a little while so that I can love and enjoy this age and all the new experiences more? It's so bittersweet. I have all the pride in the world for her and want to let everyone know how remarkable she is and at the same time want to lock all the doors and not let anyone in to see it for themselves but keep it all for me.

I am so thankful. I hope that you're just as thankful for your daughters, sons, parents, siblings, friends, loved ones. I hope that you know who your blessings are and tell them everyday like I get to tell Lexy. Love love love. Thankful beyond thankful that she is growing up so big and strong.

So, I say, I am thankful to ALL of you, my dear friends. I love you all and you all are amazing. And I am thankful there are no more pacifiers in my household.

C-

Updates and updates and updates

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was, for me, a deep post. I don't mean to get all philosophical on you... or maybe I do. I loved my comments and my virtual hugs. It means a lot and made me smile which helped me get through an "Eeyore" day. I thought that today I would let you know some of the updates that have been going on around the household. Just to lighten things up a bit.

I am officially a baseball widow. MLB has started back with a vengeance and Josh is glued to the TV. Orioles are the only team... but he's happy to watch anything when it's on if there's no Orioles game. I love baseball. For our first, third, and fourth anniversaries we splurged on AWESOME seats to Baltimore Orioles games, booked great hotel rooms and spent long weekends in Baltimore. It was awesome. I love going to games. I read the sports page religiously. I follow my team. I CANNOT watch 162 baseball games a season. Not counting postseason, but the O's haven't been there in forever so I haven't had to worry about that part. And then there's all-star break. AAHHHHH!!!!! I am happy for my DVR so I can record my DWTS (Dancing with the Stars), Private Practice (Okay, guilty pleasure) or House Hunters and go and hide in the bedroom and watch something that I want to watch. Of course, I am the supportive wife and I totally will watch some of the games. Some of them. For about 15 minutes at a time. When I'm not writing. Or reading. Or surfing the web. Or breathing.

I am going to be the Aunt to a bouncing baby boy. That's right. The decision has been made. Little Ian Daniel is going to become a bigger part of the family come September (hopefully, all prayers gratefully accepted). Carol is doing well and I love the name. Daniel is the Josh and Matt's fathers name. love love love. I can't wait to buy some decorations for the baby's room. I hope they don't mind but I rock at decorating boy's rooms. Not doing so great with Lexy's, but maybe that's because she's mine and nothing is good enough for my daughter? But that makes it sound like anything would be okay for my nephew, and that's not right. hhmmm.... Yea! A nephew!!!

The invitations have arrived for Tall Willowy Blonde's bridal shower. Oh my goodness, they are SO SO SO cute!!! I love them. I'm trying to plan a color theme around them and am planning on heading out to the stores Thursday to check on cake, balloons, flowers... Now, if I only had games and shower gifts nailed down. I'm pondering, people, pondering. Anyone have a great game they want to share? Email me, please. Personal creative block aside, my MIL suggests that we play the "toilet paper bride" game. NO NO NO!!!

Lovely Jennifer is doing well with the 2 babes at home. Although her last FB status update was a little scary so some attention from me maybe in order. She sounds a little stressed and I can't imagine how hard it is to have 2 children to take care of. But, she's an amazing trooper and I know she's doing better than she thinks she is. I keep thinking I'm giving her space and time to settle in, but I'm headed down that way in the next 2 weeks. Jennifer, I hope you're reading this. Make preparations for my mother, myself, and Lexy to head down to you. We bring time for a shower, laundry, and a nap with us. Take full advantage of us, please.

The reader count is up to 9, which is one of the most thrilling things that has happened to me in a really long time. I was hoping to get to 10, so we'll see. I am so happy to see my friends on here and to have their love and support in my little venture into the world wide web. If anyone wants to guest post, let me know. I have NO idea how to actually do that, but would love to read what my friends have to say about their lives and the world in general. Shelley, this means you. And Chimmy, if you want? I drafted the post last night. What a wonderful surprise when I woke up this morning and found my number at 10! Thank you thank you. Now that I met that goal where do I go from here. 10 is after all my favorite number. Should I aim for 15 or 20? Do I even know that many people interested in reading my thoughts? Share with your friends and lets try and get to 15!

Lexy is still talking about Easter. She had one of the best days ever, at least she thinks so. I'm hearing about her Easter egg hunt, her friend she got to play with, and lasagna (which is pronounced "Anya" for those of you out of the 2 year old loop). Oh, and CANDY. Candy is a big one. She'd never had candy until Sunday and I think she's addicted. I'm not sure what to do about it, although I'm thinking it maybe a positive thing for taking away the pacifier and teaching the potty-training thing. Give a little bribe in the form of candy. No, I am SO not above bribing my daughter. Oh, speaking of the pacifier. Anyone have ANY suggestions on that one? She only gets it for nap and night time and I'm ready to take it away, she's getting way too attached and I want to nip it in the bud. It's been too long, but she gets such relaxation from it. Should I just take it and tell her it went "bye bye" or do it at bed time and then add in nap time later? Clean break I'm thinking. And just deal with the tears and the talking and no napping for a few days. Ugh, the joys of parenting.

On that note, my lovelies, I am off. I love you all and I hope you have a beautiful day full of blessings (and comments. I love love love my comments).

C-

Internal (Maybe External) Rant

Dear Friends,

I'm having a bit of an internal struggle about today's post. I was reading a friends writing this morning and she was discussing religion, Christianity in particular, and how there are some books that she reads that she really enjoys because they question religion and it's establishments and doctrines in philosophical and Christian ways (Glennon, if you're reading this and I got that wrong, let me know). It was making me think about some of the people I know and how sometimes it seems that the people who claim to be the most Christian are really the least Christian.

It makes me cringe a bit to write things about religion, although I think about it often enough. I mean, who really cares what I think about religion? But, well, this is my blog and I get to write about anything and everything I want to. Wow, that's a sense of power that I don't tend to have in my everyday life. How disturbing. Okay, so more than anything I think about the hypocrisy of some of the people that are in my life, some in by choice, others not, who use religion on a daily basis and who don't seem to notice that they use it as an offensive weapon or that they say one thing and then act in a completely different manner. I really wonder what they think they're doing and what they think they're accomplishing by it.

I have to say, I just reread that and it makes NO sense whatsoever. I don't feel comfortable mentioning names of people that I'm thinking of right now, because I don't want to stir the pot and I don't want to hurt some people. I think that it would be good for a few of them to have something thrown in their face for self-examination, but I'm not sure a public forum is the best way to do it. Of course, in person I am a completely nonconfrontational, passive-aggressive, wimp who doesn't feel qualified to discuss religion because I don't have the bible memorized. And I do realize that that in and of itself doesn't mean that I don't have a knowledge base or understanding of my religion. That is my confession of the day. But, I do know enough that I don't throw or attack people with religion. I like to have calm and reasonable discussions including both points of view and try to show people the love I have for my God versus attempting to force people into the same manner of thinking. I think that example is more telling than speaking/lecturing/ranting...

And on that deep and meaningful note... Have I told you lately how much I love Chuck. It is seriously one of the funniest shows on TV, I highly recommend it. I look forward to it every Monday night. I don't even Tivo it so I can see it the minute it comes on. And I love Dancing with the Stars, because I could totally learn how to dance if I took myself out of real life and trained for 8 hours a day with a professional dancer. And I would look damn good with a spray tan, and AMAZING in one of those Latin costumes.


Love to you all,

C-

p.s. Please leave me some comments today if you're reading. I want some opinions on this and am feeling needy! I'm in need of a virtual hug.

The Empty Easter Egg

Dear Friends,

I hope you had as wonderful an Easter (or passover or whatever you celebrate) as I did. We had a great day taking Lexy to church, watching her have an Easter egg hunt and dyeing Easter eggs with the neighbors and a yummy lasagna dinner with the parents and one of our good friends, Jason. Exhausting but good. I am wiped out. I decided I didn't want to cook this year and that a lasagna would be easy... until I had the brilliant idea to make the sauce from scratch instead of using premade. It would have been easier, but it wouldn't have been as yummy. In my humble opinion it was super-good.

I wanted to share an Easter story that you've all probably heard at one point or another, but it's a big part of my childhood and for me Easter wouldn't be complete without it. My pastor when I was growing up, Rev. Dr. David Campbell, would tell this story every Easter at the children's service. I would look forward to it every Easter. So, I've found a variation of the one he told and am reposting it here. I hope you like it as it's made my Easter complete.

Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to St. Theresa's elementary school. At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn.

His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher.

One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a consultation. As the Foresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!" Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here."

Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Foresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why spend any more time trying? As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy." From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy 's noises and his blank stares.

Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris's face turned red. She stammered, "wh-why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat."

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Miss Miller!" The children responded enthusiastically - all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy 's parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here. "A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and turns into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too" little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."

Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My daddy helped me!" He beamed. Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy 's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.

Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and said softly, "yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!" Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!" The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.

Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, ...................all of them empty.

God bless and I love you all,

C-

Just What Is Too Big?

Dear Friends,

As I write this I'm eating NATURAL Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs. I say this because I do not truly have a weight issue. Although, maybe I do. I'm not sure anymore.

Last year a couple a few streets over put their house on the market for sale. It sat and sat and they waited and waited. I guess they didn't get a deal that they really liked because once the house was under contract they put up a sign in their yard stating that the play set they had in the backyard was for sale. They weren't giving it up along with the house. This thing is amazing. It has a tower, a rock wall, a rope ladder, regular ladder, picnic table, slide, 2 swings, tire swing, monkey bars. It's awesome. A kids dream and every neighbor kids jealous dreams. I decided that I had to at least ask about getting it for Lexy. Yeah, she was way too small to use it last year, but it would keep, right? So off I went to their front door to inquire about how much they were asking for it. $2500.00. Okay, way way way too much. Far over anything I would ever dream of spending on Lexy. So, far too much and I ruled it out.

About 2 weeks later the sign was still up in their yard. I decided that if they hadn't sold it by then that maybe they would entertain my crazy low-ball offer. I called and made an offer. Chatted with the woman for about 20 minutes. A few days later they called me back. They had decided that after talking to me about it twice and meeting Lexy that I really wanted it for her. They had 2 other offers that were higher than mine, but they were going to sell it to me because they liked me. It was so cool. And then we had to disassemble it and move it. Ugh, that was a nightmare! It took Josh, his friend Jason, myself, and my father to take it apart and move it 3 streets over.

The reason for all this back story? It was a glorious 75 degrees outside yesterday. Blue skies, white puffy clouds, nice breeze. I decided it was so nice that I would skip the grocery store in favor of letting Lexy play outside for the morning. After lunch we ended up in the backyard so Lexy could use the slide. We haven't used it since last year and it was covered in leaves and spider webs so I climbed up after Lexy with a broom to clean it up a little. When I went to go up into the tower section Lexy was kind enough to tell me: "No Mommy, Mommy too big. Lexy little". Nice, right?

I decided that I would take her down the slide with me the first time, since it's a bigger slide than she's used to. I sat down and when I went to put her on my lap she told me "Mommy too big, no Mommy". Um, yeah. Okay. I'll admit it. I'm 5 foot 6 and weigh 134 as of this morning. I may not be pre-baby shape, but I am pre-baby weight. I've never been ridiculously thin, but other than baby weight never been over 140ish. I consider myself average. Normal. Regular weight. Nothing special. I try and eat healthy, with exceptions. Like Cheetos White Cheddar cheese puffs. I try and go for 2 walks a day.

"Mommy too big, no Mommy" I went down that slide about 15 times.

Thursday Thankfulness

Dear Friends,

I've been reading some other blogs in the last few days and one of the things I've noticed that I think is fun is that a lot of them have weekly segments for their posts. One of the things I've been thinking about lately are all the blessings that I have and how lucky I am. And so "Thursday Thankfulness" is born. Hopefully this will allow for anyone reading along to think of their own blessings and remind of us of all the wonderful things we have instead of thinking of all the things that are wrong or not how we want them. I am attempting to be "Glass Half Full Girl" versus "Glass Half Empty Girl".

So, obvious blessings: I have a wonderful husband (socks on the floor aside) and an amazing daughter (2 year old whining ignored).

Okay, so what are the not so obvious blessings... the things I want to try and think of and remind myself of? I am thankful for my basement. I know that seems a little silly. I should be thankful for health and solid employment, deep and moving things like that. But first, a little back story. When Josh and I were first looking to move from our townhouse, we had a contract on a house that we both liked in the neighborhood we both liked. Fortunately the contract was contingent on the sale of our townhouse which didn't happen. Once that contract fell through we ended up with the same model house, on a cul-de-sac, with a finished attic, larger master bedroom, and a finished basement. All around a better house. We love it.

The finished basement has become our playroom for Lexy. It has saved my bacon on so many of the snowy and rainy days that we've had this past winter and early spring it's hard to imagine what I would have done without it. We have been able to migrate so many toys downstairs and there is so much room for her it's amazing. She has room to run and play, she has room to take her toy stroller for a walk. We have a TV, sleeper sofa, kids table and chair, and there's enough room for her doll house and 2 bookshelves for her books and toys. Gotta love storage. And, there's still enough room for a blow-up ball pit.



The nice thing about that picture is that it doesn't show the other half of the room. Actually, more than half. Of course, right now there is a huge ball pit taking up what seems like a third of the floor space, but Lexy loves it so much that I hate to deflate it. When she sees it she runs into it and flings herself inside and yells "Balls EVERYWHERE". I mean, really, could you deflate it?

For me, anything that makes parenting easier is a blessing and something I should think of and be thankful for. Being able to change locations and have different toys in different areas of the house makes for a much better stay-at-home day, especially when the weather is freezing and there happens to be 30 inches of snow outside like we had this past winter. So, to the previous owners of this house I say "Thank you so much for finishing off the basement. Lexy and I both love it. I appreciate your helping to make it easier for me to raise my daughter."