Marc: Wow, these are some nice worms!
Marc: (when I asked how long 15.5 inches since that is how long my AJ is), “Well, he’s about 2.5 worms” (while holding up two squiggly gross worms end to end)
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
What I have to look forward to.
What I've Learned About Men (and myself) by Raising Boys
By Dana Loesch
There's a quote by an actress who said that she learned so much more about men by having sons. I am a woman who grew up the only child of a tidy, overly-effeminate mother who swears by Clinique. I used to wear dresses with black patent-leather Mary Janes and red bows in my hair.
My boy cousins were messy, farted way too much, ate constantly, ran everywhere and climbed on everything. They were totally alien to me, and that pretty much concluded what I knew of boys. So when Chris and I discovered that we were expecting, I just assumed that we would have a girl. However, nature thought it would be super hilarious to give me not one, but two little boys.
Not that I don't love my little boys, I adore my sons, I am STUPID in love with them. It was just that I'm a girl. I know all about girl things, like how all little girls love tiaras and tutus. I knew nothing about boys.
Five years later I find myself completely surrounded by men. I am the minority in my household, the only woman. As a result, I've learned a lot. I've learned that farts, apparently, are unbelievably hysterical. I was taught to be embarrassed if my body betrayed me vocally in public, not to hoot about it and yell "Did you hear how loud that was? DID YOU HEAR THAT? Yeah, that was me!" High five!
I've learned that it is completely acceptable in the male world to brag about the size of whatever you deposited into the toilet, as well as walk out of the bathroom and beg for people to come see it, as the little boys do in my house. More high fives! It took one time for me to fall backwards into the toilet at 3 a.m. before I began to look and make sure the seat was down first.
I've learned that two-thirds of the household majority will pass by a dropped object on the floor 4,399,221 times BEFORE stopping to ask what it's doing there instead of picking it up. The one-third stops only because he thinks that it's something to eat and will hurriedly shove it in his mouth before anyone sees him.
I've learned that anything can be made into a gun or a lightsaber. This goes for wooden spoons, clothes hangers, toothbrushes and the tampon from my purse as I was loading groceries onto the conveyor belt. I've learned that boys do not come programmed with fear or a sense for boundaries for the sole purpose of balancing out their mothers' fear for them.
I've learned that you can never have too many Matchbox cars.
I don't think twice anymore about covering my cut finger or scratched arm with a Spider-Man Band-Aid, because they were the ones Chris and Liam thought were the coolest. I've learned that rites of passage are completely different for boys than they are for girls. Standing up to go to the bathroom for the first time is a huge deal.
I've learned that I cannot sit in the floor without being tackled and wrestled to the ground. The floor is the red zone and by sitting on it you are non-verbally consenting to WWE.
I've learned that little boys love to climb, be it the couch, the chair, the bookcase, their beds, the toilets, or into the refrigerator. I've heard that little girls are born with PMS; I've learned that little boys are born with a predilection to throw things and run full-speed down steep hills. I've learned that when a little boy gets a cool toy for a present, the dad is just as excited to play with it as the boy.
I've learned that these characteristics never really go away, even with age, and that having sons gives a dad a chance to relive some of his childhood. Raising sons has caused me to forget how I used to want a daughter. I've learned that boys follow their daddies' examples. Liam regularly tells me, in his spastic munchkin voice, that I "look like a princess" whenever I get ready to go anywhere. He didn't just figure out how to give compliments like that by himself.
I love how he opens doors (or will try) for me and other women. I love how when our entire household tears through the house playing and rough-housing, Liam designates himself as my official protector. "I'LL SAVE YOU MOM!" he'll yell, while throwing his little body in front of mine and pretending to shoot Chris (the designate Bad Alien) with a "laser beam gun." I love playing in dirt now.
Another thing I love, a lesson learned, is that I've made amends with men (and my history with them) by having sons. I've learned what it is to be a woman. And not to ignore the daddies, because they're just as valuable -- does it ever take a strong woman to raise a man.
By Dana Loesch
There's a quote by an actress who said that she learned so much more about men by having sons. I am a woman who grew up the only child of a tidy, overly-effeminate mother who swears by Clinique. I used to wear dresses with black patent-leather Mary Janes and red bows in my hair.
My boy cousins were messy, farted way too much, ate constantly, ran everywhere and climbed on everything. They were totally alien to me, and that pretty much concluded what I knew of boys. So when Chris and I discovered that we were expecting, I just assumed that we would have a girl. However, nature thought it would be super hilarious to give me not one, but two little boys.
Not that I don't love my little boys, I adore my sons, I am STUPID in love with them. It was just that I'm a girl. I know all about girl things, like how all little girls love tiaras and tutus. I knew nothing about boys.
Five years later I find myself completely surrounded by men. I am the minority in my household, the only woman. As a result, I've learned a lot. I've learned that farts, apparently, are unbelievably hysterical. I was taught to be embarrassed if my body betrayed me vocally in public, not to hoot about it and yell "Did you hear how loud that was? DID YOU HEAR THAT? Yeah, that was me!" High five!
I've learned that it is completely acceptable in the male world to brag about the size of whatever you deposited into the toilet, as well as walk out of the bathroom and beg for people to come see it, as the little boys do in my house. More high fives! It took one time for me to fall backwards into the toilet at 3 a.m. before I began to look and make sure the seat was down first.
I've learned that two-thirds of the household majority will pass by a dropped object on the floor 4,399,221 times BEFORE stopping to ask what it's doing there instead of picking it up. The one-third stops only because he thinks that it's something to eat and will hurriedly shove it in his mouth before anyone sees him.
I've learned that anything can be made into a gun or a lightsaber. This goes for wooden spoons, clothes hangers, toothbrushes and the tampon from my purse as I was loading groceries onto the conveyor belt. I've learned that boys do not come programmed with fear or a sense for boundaries for the sole purpose of balancing out their mothers' fear for them.
I've learned that you can never have too many Matchbox cars.
I don't think twice anymore about covering my cut finger or scratched arm with a Spider-Man Band-Aid, because they were the ones Chris and Liam thought were the coolest. I've learned that rites of passage are completely different for boys than they are for girls. Standing up to go to the bathroom for the first time is a huge deal.
I've learned that I cannot sit in the floor without being tackled and wrestled to the ground. The floor is the red zone and by sitting on it you are non-verbally consenting to WWE.
I've learned that little boys love to climb, be it the couch, the chair, the bookcase, their beds, the toilets, or into the refrigerator. I've heard that little girls are born with PMS; I've learned that little boys are born with a predilection to throw things and run full-speed down steep hills. I've learned that when a little boy gets a cool toy for a present, the dad is just as excited to play with it as the boy.
I've learned that these characteristics never really go away, even with age, and that having sons gives a dad a chance to relive some of his childhood. Raising sons has caused me to forget how I used to want a daughter. I've learned that boys follow their daddies' examples. Liam regularly tells me, in his spastic munchkin voice, that I "look like a princess" whenever I get ready to go anywhere. He didn't just figure out how to give compliments like that by himself.
I love how he opens doors (or will try) for me and other women. I love how when our entire household tears through the house playing and rough-housing, Liam designates himself as my official protector. "I'LL SAVE YOU MOM!" he'll yell, while throwing his little body in front of mine and pretending to shoot Chris (the designate Bad Alien) with a "laser beam gun." I love playing in dirt now.
Another thing I love, a lesson learned, is that I've made amends with men (and my history with them) by having sons. I've learned what it is to be a woman. And not to ignore the daddies, because they're just as valuable -- does it ever take a strong woman to raise a man.
Monday, February 6, 2006
Can you say "Heartburn?"
Look at all that hair on my Andrew! (Isn't he adorable!)
By the way this pregnancy is going....Baby AJ will just as hairy.
...if not more.
Is PMS while Pregnant possible?
J’ever have one of those days. Y’know…the kind where you just might burst out it tears if someone so much as looks at you funny. For some reason, that was today. And nothing was really wrong. I mean, I worked all day downtown and it was a super busy crazy busy day, nothing I couldn’t handle, but for some reason I felt on the verge of tears all day. And when I am this way the worse people I can talk to are Marc or my mom. I can hold it together for everyone but them. I avoided my mom, well not really avoided because I was too busy to call her anyway, but man, I had to hang up the phone quickly at work with Marc and blink back the swelling eyes. What in the world? And since there truly isn’t really anything wrong, I am blaming it on hormones and this AJ kid growing inside me.
Well, then I get home and Marc has flowers for me. It it weren’t for the fact that Ryan was here, too….I probably would have lost it. So sweet that hubby of mine is.
The good news is that we pretty much have nothing going on tonight. I need to pay bills and get some stuff off our laptop before it gets taken in for service (yes, a FOURTH TIME), but other than that, “24” is the only thing on our list. Y’know why….’cause our house is clean! We busted our rumps yesterday and it’s so nice to come home too! I love it. But I am also tired… very tired. That might have led to my moodiness today, too. Marc and were up late last night working on a top-secret computer project that wasn’t going to hot. By the time we were done… it was at least midnight.
So anyway, I am feeling better now. It helps that we got a big answer to prayer tonight and that’s exciting. (it’s part of the top-secret computer project – will share more later….got to be careful since this blog IS available to the general public). I know, I know…I’ve left you with a huge teaser. Stay tuned.
Well, then I get home and Marc has flowers for me. It it weren’t for the fact that Ryan was here, too….I probably would have lost it. So sweet that hubby of mine is.
The good news is that we pretty much have nothing going on tonight. I need to pay bills and get some stuff off our laptop before it gets taken in for service (yes, a FOURTH TIME), but other than that, “24” is the only thing on our list. Y’know why….’cause our house is clean! We busted our rumps yesterday and it’s so nice to come home too! I love it. But I am also tired… very tired. That might have led to my moodiness today, too. Marc and were up late last night working on a top-secret computer project that wasn’t going to hot. By the time we were done… it was at least midnight.
So anyway, I am feeling better now. It helps that we got a big answer to prayer tonight and that’s exciting. (it’s part of the top-secret computer project – will share more later….got to be careful since this blog IS available to the general public). I know, I know…I’ve left you with a huge teaser. Stay tuned.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Party Hardy....or not
This is what happens when we reach the stage in our lives when we all have (or will be having soon) small children. By 9:00 tonight, only the 3rd quarter of a good Superbowl game, Marc and I are the only ones left at our Superbowl party. Not that I am really complaining, because frankly, I am tired. We worked our tails off today around the house and were pooped before the shin-dig ever got started. But of our original total of 10 adults and 5 kids (9 kids including the unborn), 2 couples (& 3 kids) bailed before they even got here. So that left 6 adults and 2 kids (6 kids including the unborn) here for the party.
But it was really nice. Of course we had TONS o’ food. Marc and I will be eating leftover pizza, dessert and pop for the next week. We all got chatty (at least us girls) and I don’t know how much of the actual game anyone watched. I can’t even say I watched that many commercials (my real reason for watching).
But alas, kids bedtimes came and tomorrow is an early morning for many, including myself, and well, we aren’t 20 anymore. So here Marc and I sit, Andrew’s in bed and we are watching the game. We still need to clean up the kitchen, and I still need to pull everything together for tomorrow morning, but it won’t be too long before I hit the sack.
Aren’t we the partiers!
But it was really nice. Of course we had TONS o’ food. Marc and I will be eating leftover pizza, dessert and pop for the next week. We all got chatty (at least us girls) and I don’t know how much of the actual game anyone watched. I can’t even say I watched that many commercials (my real reason for watching).
But alas, kids bedtimes came and tomorrow is an early morning for many, including myself, and well, we aren’t 20 anymore. So here Marc and I sit, Andrew’s in bed and we are watching the game. We still need to clean up the kitchen, and I still need to pull everything together for tomorrow morning, but it won’t be too long before I hit the sack.
Aren’t we the partiers!
Are you ready for some football?
It’s Superbowl Sunday and we’ve spent the last couple days getting our place ready for a Superbowl party. As of now, it looks like a guest list of 10 adults and 5 kids (9 kids if you count the unborn). Doesn’t sound like much, but our house isn’t THAT big. But it should be fun and I’m looking forward to it.
Of course, I’m sure it will be a late night, and normally would not be an issue except that I am working all day downtown tomorrow, so it’s an early squirrelly morning for us on Monday. I worked downtown last Friday, too. Have I mentioned it’s crazy busy down there…especially on Mondays and Fridays.
So, speaking of Friday. An accident report was filed for my kiddo at daycare. According to the report written by his teacher:
By the time I picked him up, and hour had passed since the incident; they were in the gym (his favorite place) and was playing like nothing even happened. But his teacher felt horrible about it and was very apologetic (though she did nothing wrong and everything right). She said she was ready to do the Heimlich and fortunately didn’t need to. And well, frankly, the ER is like right there. I was just thankful that I found out about it AFTER the fact that he was fine….it made it easier to accept. So needless to say, he got a tub immediately after we got home.
Last night we were able to get together with the Dresslers and some of the old roomie gang for dinner. However, we now have 3 kids between us (5 kids if you count the unborn – is there something in the air here?) And of course we decided that on a Saturday evening we wanted to go out to dinner. Ha! What were we thinking? Everywhere in our city, the city with a street listed as the record holder for most restaurants per mile, is packed on the weekends. So trying to get a table for essentially 9 (for the highchairs) and no wait (you try to wait in a crowded restaurant lobby with 2 toddlers and an infant), was pretty much impossible. Yea, we ended up at Steak and Shake. Not any of our first choices, or second or even third (I could go one), but after driving the caravan of vehicles around (since we all had car seats and couldn’t ride together) we needed to stop and that was the best option at the time. And it really wasn’t too bad either. Plus we all did get some great milkshakes….so I can’t complain.
May your day be filled with good food and good football.
Of course, I’m sure it will be a late night, and normally would not be an issue except that I am working all day downtown tomorrow, so it’s an early squirrelly morning for us on Monday. I worked downtown last Friday, too. Have I mentioned it’s crazy busy down there…especially on Mondays and Fridays.
So, speaking of Friday. An accident report was filed for my kiddo at daycare. According to the report written by his teacher:
We were getting ready to go to the gym and Andrew came behind me gagging. He was trying to get something green out of his mouth. He started to vomit and was able to get a short ½ of a plastic egg out of his mouth. I cleaned his face and hands and put clean clothes on him.
By the time I picked him up, and hour had passed since the incident; they were in the gym (his favorite place) and was playing like nothing even happened. But his teacher felt horrible about it and was very apologetic (though she did nothing wrong and everything right). She said she was ready to do the Heimlich and fortunately didn’t need to. And well, frankly, the ER is like right there. I was just thankful that I found out about it AFTER the fact that he was fine….it made it easier to accept. So needless to say, he got a tub immediately after we got home.
Last night we were able to get together with the Dresslers and some of the old roomie gang for dinner. However, we now have 3 kids between us (5 kids if you count the unborn – is there something in the air here?) And of course we decided that on a Saturday evening we wanted to go out to dinner. Ha! What were we thinking? Everywhere in our city, the city with a street listed as the record holder for most restaurants per mile, is packed on the weekends. So trying to get a table for essentially 9 (for the highchairs) and no wait (you try to wait in a crowded restaurant lobby with 2 toddlers and an infant), was pretty much impossible. Yea, we ended up at Steak and Shake. Not any of our first choices, or second or even third (I could go one), but after driving the caravan of vehicles around (since we all had car seats and couldn’t ride together) we needed to stop and that was the best option at the time. And it really wasn’t too bad either. Plus we all did get some great milkshakes….so I can’t complain.
May your day be filled with good food and good football.
Thursday, February 2, 2006
Sesame Street or SNL?
Yesterday, on Sesame Street, they had a special guest, Donald Grump, who of course is a grouch. And Mr. Grump, who had quite a combed up hair-do, was trying to find a suitable helper…. but of course after each task had to fire someone with his signature hand gesture and the words, “SCRAM!, YOU’RE FIRED!” Even lovable Elmo got fired. But mostly because he was lovable and well, a lovable character can't work for a grouch. It was amusing.
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Scrub a Dub Dub, two boys in the tub and who do you think they'd be?
Here's some footage from this past weekend. Andrew and his cousin Gideon (4 mo. older) taking a tub with the Grandma's supervising (or just mopping up after them). Don't worry, other than their little toushees in the beginning, nothing else is 'seen'.
Share Video at DropShots.com
Share Video at DropShots.com
Pockets!!!
He's discovered pockets. Yes, yesterday he went from me to Marc pointing to our pockets. "Mama's pocket, Andrew's pocket and Dada's pocket!" Back and forth. Then, we put an empty Pez dispenser in his pocket and the excitement started all over again. In and out of mama's pocket, Andrew's pocket and dada's pocket.
Also, we bought Andrew a little toilet seat that fits on the big toilet seat. Well, I don't think he's anywhere near ready to potty train and I'm not going to start pushing it for a while, yet. However, we've let him carry around his new "Andrew's potty" and check it out and last night while Marc was in the bathroom, he casually asked Andrew if he wanted to sit on the big boy potty. And he said he did. So Marc undressed him and sat him down. He immediately wanted down, but was calm about it and Marc got him to stay up there a bit by giving him high fives. It only lasted about 20 seconds and of course he didn't "go", but he still got 2 animal crackers afterwards. I still don't think he's near ready to begin working on training, but hey, if he's willing to sit, I'm willing to put him on there.
Well, the job I was interested at work has changed status from "accepting applications" to "interviewing" today. And so far, I have not received a call. Not sure how to feel about it, other than it is what it is.
Nothing much planned for tonight. Hoping again to work some more around the house...I got quite a bit done this morning, but from the looks of it you can't tell. It was more 'behind the scenes' things like laundry and loading/unloading the dishwasher, etc... The last two nights, despite my best efforts, just haven't been real productive. Marc has been gone and I have been tired. So maybe if we tag team it, we can make a dent on our to do lists. Here's to being half-way through the week!
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